Rajbhandari arrested during protest at Biden campaign headquarters

For the second time in five months, Boise school trustee Shiva Rajbhandari was arrested in connection with a climate change protest.

The University of North Carolina student, was among 21 activists arrested Monday outside President Biden’s campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del. Rajbhandari told the Idaho Press that he spent 10 hours in jail after he was charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.

A social media post included footage of Rajbhandari, in handcuffs, as he was led away from Biden campaign headquarters.

“I’m putting my life on the line,” he shouted, “and all we’re asking is that he declare a climate emergency.”

Rajbhandari was elected to the Boise School Board in 2022, when he was a Boise High School student. He continues to serve on the board, attending meetings remotely.

His tenure has been punctuated by climate change protests.

In September, he was arrested outside the offices of the Federal Reserve in New York City. Charges were later dropped.

In January, a security guard tackled Rajbhandari during a campaign event in Ames, Iowa, after Rajbhandari shouted at Ron DeSantis, calling the Florida governor and then-presidential candidate a “climate criminal.”

 

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 35 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. He can be reached at [email protected]

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