The sixth day of the Stop Tar Sands Profiteers Week of Action kicks off with actions in Washington, DC. in which 20 people where arrested. The day began on a more solemn tone when about 15 interfaith leaders led prayers before engaging in civil disobedience at the White House to stop Keystone XL. Nearby a raucous group of protesters took to the streets and protested at the Canadian Embassy, Valero Corp, API, and TD Bank locations. Five were arrested for a sit-in inside the Valero office.
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Thursday, March 21 – Interfaith Leaders Engage in #NoKXL Civil Disobedience at White House
UPDATE: 75 people rallied and the reports of 15 people arrested has been confirmed. See more photos here.
Photo credit: John Zangas
Religiously and spiritually rooted Americans of all traditions gathered today at the White House to make clear to President Obama that addressing climate change is a moral imperative and that delivering on his inspired State of the Union pledge will require bold actions, including rejecting the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Further, Interfaith Moral Action on Climate Change urges President Obama to lead Americans away from reliance on the dirty fossils fuels that drive climate change and transition us to a renewable energy economy. The risk of inaction is so great that some IMAC members felt morally compelled to engage in peaceful civil disobedience, leading to their arrest.
80-year old rabbi and author Arthur Waskow was arrested along with 14 other faith leaders
Live coverage:
More coverage of today’s civil disobedience in Grist.org, “Palms, Matzah, Our Planet, and the White House”:
Our March 21st action will occur at a critical moment: Many of our religious communities will be preparing for Passover and Holy Week,(Palm Sunday begins Holy Week on March 24; the first night of Passover is on Monday, March 25), even as our President faces a profound decision that will affect our planet – teetering on the edge of a climate tipping point – and the human communities throughout the Earth already suffering the effects of the climate crisis and threatened with more and worsening disasters.
As we observe the upcoming holy days, our ancient sacred wisdoms remind us that top-down power must be called to account for us to win through to the Promised Land, the Beloved Community.
Photo credit: John Zangas
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Thursday, March 21 – Five Arrests at Valero in DC: Dozens Rally at Canadian Embassy, Valero Corp, API, and TD Bank
Today the streets of Washington, DC erupted as dozens of with KXL protestors marched from one tar sands profiteer location to the next. After gathering at the Canadian Embassy protestors marched to the Canadian Embassy, American Petroleum Institute, Valero offices and a TD Bank branch in Washington, DC.
Check their flickr page for lots of great photos.
Read their press release on the Rising Tide North America website.
Indy media reports from the scene say that FBI agents with covered badges were filming the crowd.
Fifty marchers take “Tour of Shame” of pro-tar sands institutions in DC
Five protesters were arrested for staging a sit-in and disrupting business as usual at Valero Corp office in D.C.
Photo credit: John Zangas
Watch the video of DC police using excessive force on peaceful protestors:
At the Valero office in D.C.
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Thursday, March 21- Hundreds march with Idle No More Seattle against coal export terminals
Several hundred indigenous activists and allies marched through the streets of Seattle, escorted by a large police presence. See more photos here.
A group of cyclists temporarily broke off from the march and rallied at this Shell station.
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Thursday, March 21 – Overpass Light Brigades All Across the Country Are Lighting the Truth On KXL
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Thursday, March 21 – Rising Tide Vancouver Deploys Two Banners Over Highway
For more info on their action and on the upcoming Global Day of Action Against Chevron and the Pacific Trail Pipeline, check their Flickr page.
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Thursday, March 21- Idle No More Portland drops banner at ESCO headquarters
ESCO is one of Porland’s worst polluters – both in terms of local air pollution and carbon emissions. Check out these great photos and more from a rally at their headquarters:
Photo Credit: Alex Milan Tracy
Photo Credit: Alex Milan Tracy
