While the formal public comment period on the Keystone XL pipeline came to a close last Friday (with more than two million comments against the pipeline!), KXL opponents in Philadelphia today turned from words to actions. They said no to the pipeline by putting their bodies on the line.
More than one hundred protesters marched to the William J. Green Federal Building where waves of protesters proceeded to block entrances to the federal building for four hours. 29 participants were arrested disrupting business as usual and making sure the Obama Administration could not ignore their message: the President would betray both his promise and his commitment to battling climate change if he caves to Big Oil and approves the pipeline.
The protesters, many affiliated with Earth Quaker Action Team, brought brooms and banner to announce it is finally time for the government to sweep away its corrupt collusion with Big Oil. It sure was a beautiful site.
Check out how the action unfolded from the best tweets of the day:
Yes! Big crowd of #NoKXL protestors headed to Philly federal building in 1hr w/ brooms to “sweep out” corruption pic.twitter.com/5cLHvIixYR
— Jamie Henn (@Agent350) March 10, 2014
#XLDissentPhilly activists blocking federal building door. #NoKXL pic.twitter.com/dhXt1DsInp — Sean Kitchen (@RCPress_Sean) March 10, 2014
We will not let you build this pipeline #nokxl #xldissentphilly pic.twitter.com/sZzP659nEz — Environmental Action (@EnviroAction) March 10, 2014
Tussle with the police. #nokxl pic.twitter.com/MiLaIP5qKY
— EarthQuakrActionTeam (@eqat) March 10, 2014
Door #2 blocked at #xldissentphilly pic.twitter.com/ZQg2p6QB59
— Sam Bernhardt (@slbernhardt) March 10, 2014
Door #3 blocked #xldissentphilly pic.twitter.com/J5UCFvehcu — Sam Bernhardt (@slbernhardt) March 10, 2014
Sweep out corruption: #nokxl #xldissentphilly pic.twitter.com/sLXVkT4q7s — Environmental Action (@EnviroAction) March 10, 2014
Officer: you trying to go in here? Woman: yes Officer: that’s not going to happen #xldissentphilly pic.twitter.com/pL44qBLUqb
— Sam Bernhardt (@slbernhardt) March 10, 2014
Here come the barricades. Let’s person them! #xldissentphilly #nokxl pic.twitter.com/HbziPfGlWl
— Environmental Action (@EnviroAction) March 10, 2014
Barricades going up #nokxl #xldissentphilly pic.twitter.com/mxnWRS2dGd — Environmental Action (@EnviroAction) March 10, 2014
First arrests at #xldissentphilly #nokxl pic.twitter.com/qvEOv7DmGQ — Environmental Action (@EnviroAction) March 10, 2014
I count at least 5 arrests #xldissentphilly #nokxl pic.twitter.com/gnxSAH9F00
— Environmental Action (@EnviroAction) March 10, 2014
And the second wave begins!
The replacements just took over the door where others just got arrested #XLDissentPhilly #NoKXL pic.twitter.com/7MGwsdrP9D
— EarthQuakrActionTeam (@eqat) March 10, 2014
Heads held high #xldissentphilly #nokxl @RisingTideNA pic.twitter.com/9c3wz2nCW6
— Environmental Action (@EnviroAction) March 10, 2014
Huge cheer for @eqat Eileen organizer extraordinaire #xldissentphilly #nokxl pic.twitter.com/EjTNS8r4dA — Environmental Action (@EnviroAction) March 10, 2014
Still 2 doorways blocked at federal building #xldissentphilly #nokxl pic.twitter.com/frmSX2LQ1l — Environmental Action (@EnviroAction) March 10, 2014
Lines restored #xldissentphilly #nokxl pic.twitter.com/vIVFKVxrQy
— Environmental Action (@EnviroAction) March 10, 2014
We left the chore list for @statedept #nokxl #xldissentphilly pic.twitter.com/cB0p0BWhKk
— Environmental Action (@EnviroAction) March 10, 2014