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March 28, 2013

Anti-Keystone XL Protester Climbs Flagpole to Denounce Tar Sands Oil 
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Protesters are continuing to ramp up their resistance to the Keystone XL
pipeline — which would carry tar sands oil from Canada to Texas
— as they await word from President Obama on whether he will
approve it. In Houston, Texas, Wednesday, a protester climbed a 50-foot
flagpole and hung a banner denouncing a firm that processes tar sands
oil. Lyondell Basell is reportedly planning an upgrade that will allow
it to process nearly a quarter of the pipeline’s capacity. The group
Tar Sands Blockade accused the company of "environmental racism" for
polluting a largely Latino area. On Wednesday, the street in front of
the firm’s office was blocked off as firefighters used a ladder to
remove protester Perry Graham from the flagpole. Before his ascension,
Graham said his act was connected to a wave of actions against the
Keystone XL last week.

Perry Graham: "By taking action today, I hope to call people to action.
We just had a week of action where we saw over 55 actions across the
country and over 60 people get arrested, sending a clear message to
anyone who hopes to invest in tar sands that resistance will only
continue if they do try to profit off other people's suffering."

 

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