Less than two hours after the Stop The Star Sands protest against the XL Pipeline began outside the White House, event organizer Bill McKibben has been arrested.
The two week demonstrattion begins today and runs through September 3 to exert pressure on President Barack Obama to oppose the constrution of the Keystone XL, which would substantially increase the amount of tar sands shipped through the US.
The online live reporting of the arrests outside the WH this morning has been lost and no MSM is covering the event.
Arrests began within 20 minutes of the sit in, after three mandatory warnings from park police regarding illegality of sitting on sidewalks outside the WH.
During the first 30 minutes of the protest, livecoverage was provided by FDL, but was cut off as Jane Hamsher who was sitting beside Lt. Dan Choi, was arrested. A recording of her coverage is now available.
There were periodic chanting, with applause for each individual as they were arrested. Arrests continue @ 9:17 AM PST.
McKibben told protestors before sit in began: "Our currency for these two weeks is our bodies, our spirit and our creativity."
Here is the schedule for the next two weeks of action.
Follow reporting here at Daily Kos during the weeklong blogathon, which officially concluded yesterday evening with Bill McKibben's post just prior to his arrival at the first training session.
The first photo and photos of solidarity from around the world.
Follow @TarSandsAction
JaneKlebb
Jamie Henn
Hashtags #nokxl
h/t joanneleon Activist Communique: Tar Sands Action and solidarity actions
8:03 AM PT: "Our currency for these two weeks is our bodies, our spirit and our creativity." Bill McKibben @ 8:00AM PST
8:11 AM PT: whitjones Whit Jones
Gus Speth whose books woke me up to these issues is in line to risk arrest #inspired #nokxl
8:12 AM PT: Agent350 Jamie Henn
Crow marching to WH now. Approaching fence. Tourists confused. #noKXL
HUGE APPPLAUSE
8:38 AM PT: YOU ARE NOW UNDER ARREST!
8:40 AM PT: Karina first arrest!
9:22 AM PT: Arrests underway http://yfrog.com/...
9:30 AM PT: TreeHugger TreeHugger.com
RT @TarSandsAction: #NoKXL overheard from tourist with young daughter re: @TarSandsAction: 'this is American democracy,
9:30 AM PT: h/t joanneleon below for images choi and JH from FDL being arrested.
9:31 AM PT: solidarity photos from around the world http://www.flickr.com/...
9:49 AM PT: McKibben just arrested
1:25 PM PT: NO Keystone XL Pipeline is winning the CBC poll 75% to 22%. It takes 2 secs to vote: http://ow.ly/... #noKXL