On this day, the 17th of February 2013, nine years ago, climate scientists, activists and activists were arrested outside the White House. They were protesting against the Keystone pipeline. Those arrested included James Hansen, actor Daryl Hannah, civil rights leader Julian Bond and environmental advocate Robert Kennedy Jr.
[This wasn’t their first go at this rodeo]
There were about 40,000 people on the march (though these guesstimates are always rubbery).
Why this matters
We need to celebrate resistance. Remember that we have resisted, albeit without much success, for who knows how much worse things would have been if we hadn’t.
What happened next?
Keystone may have been cancelled, but the extractivist infrastructures continue to be built…
See also
Thousands rally to protest Keystone- POLITICO
Protesters Call On Obama To Reject Keystone XL Pipeline (npr.org)