I learned from ek hornbeck's diary earlier today that Bill McKibben yelled this from his jail cell Saturday night:
"Make sure everyone writes about this!”
So, in a show of support for the Tar Sands Activists, I'm writing about it. I hope you will too. There is very little coverage of this in the traditional media.
As of right now (2pm eastern):
Protesters who were arrested are at the DC Superior Court right
Jane Hamsher just tweeted that charges are being dropped against everyone except Dan Choi, Dave Schleisinger of Vets 4 Peace and Tom Weis. More updates will follow in the section at the end of this diary.
@tarsandsaction on Twitter about two hours ago said there were 50 arrests, and about 20 minutes ago they said that all 52 arrestees were released.
Video of supporters thanking the protesters from
Think Progress:
Day 3 of the Tar Sands Action Sit-in at the White House
Monday, Aug 22: Nebraska Residents / Washington DC Residents
The Keystone XL would run through Nebraska, bisecting the ecologically sensitive Sandhills and crossing the Ogallala Aquifer. On Monday, residents of Nebraska will act as lead spokespeople for the sit-in at the White House along with a large contingent of DC residents who will help kick-off the first week of protests on their home turf.
http://www.tarsandsaction.org/...
TarSandsAction.org
A short film capturing the first day of training and White House sit-in that launched the Tar Sands Action, a protest of the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline. More info at www.tarsandsaction.org.
Bold Nebraskans
Who: Jane Kleeb of BOLD Nebraska and nearly 100 concerned citizens.
What: Day 3 of the Tar Sands Action, a sit-in at the White House. Sit-ins with approximately 100 people will continue every morning until September 3. A calendar of featured spokespeople and delegations from across the country is listed at tarsandsaction.org/press.
Where: Lafeyette Square Park, facing the White House, before marching over to the White House fence.
When: 10:30 AM, Monday, August 22
http://www.tarsandsaction.org/...
Message From Randy the Rancher to Bold Nebraskans in Washington, DC today
Randy Thompson is a landowner from Merrick County:
I want to thank all of my fellow Nebraskans who are in DC protesting the pipeline, and I want all of you to know that I respect and admire the courage and personal commitment you have shown by being there.
It is time that the American people send a message to the big oil companies and their political allies, and that message is this: We are fed up with having our livelihoods and natural resources put at risk just for the sake of corporate profit, and we are also fed up with a politicians who fail to hear to our voices, but instead cater to those who can fatten their campaign coffers.
There are many unanswered questions about this project but one thing is becoming abundantly clear, Americans do not support or want this pipeline.
Please make sure they get the message.
God’s speed.
What Can You Do To Help?
(With thanks to boatsie for this action information)
Action: Use Twitter to contact major media figures and ask "Why aren't you covering this story?" #notxl @tarsandsaction
Twitter: MSM Media*
@KeithOlbermann
@maddow
@andersoncooper
@Lawrence
@CNN
@NBCNews
Twitter Contacts Government
Send tweets to the WH and DOS: No XL Pipeline in US! We want wind, NOT FOSSILS energizing our planet! #notxl @tarsandsaction
@BarackObama
@whitehouse
@WhiteHouse_Blog
Send comments or call:
The White House, The White House,202-456-1111
U. S Department of State, 202-647-4000
Action Items from TarSandsAction.org
Join Us in DC
Sign Petition
Donate
Latest News / Updates
Around 2:30pm eastern
@TarSandsAction Tar Sands Action
#noKXL 50 arrests today. Day 3 protestors, thank you.
2 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone
@janehamsher Jane Hamsher
At DC superior court. Charges dropped against everyone but @ltdanchoi and 2 other who are being brought up for arraignment shortly.
3 minutes ago via Mobile Web
@janehamsher Jane Hamsher
Dave Schleisinger of Vets 4 Peace and Tom Weis also being arraigned with @ltdanchoi shortly.
3 minutes ago via Mobile Web
@losinghand Matt Leonard
52 arrests imminent at @whitehouse for @TarSandsAction - this makes 162 arrests over 3 days. #nokxl http://t.co/...
14 minutes ago via HootSuite
@TarSandsAction Tar Sands Action
All 52 arrestees from today released. Their photos: bit.ly/pBcK9r #noKXL
23 minutes ago via TweetDeck
Tar Sands Action @TarSandsAction
Arraignments for people arrested Saturday happening as we speak. If you're in DC, support them here: http://t.co/... #noKXL
8 minutes ago via TweetDeck
Around 3pm eastern:
David Dayen:
The significant development today is that the New York Times editorial page was moved to oppose the tar sands pipeline. Without the profile from Bill McKibben’s protests, who knows if they would have paid the issue much attention.
@janehamsher Jane Hamsher
Waiting for #tarsands arrestees 2 b released & @ltdanchoi to be arraigned yfrog.com/h2qymshkj
32 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
@janehamsher Jane Hamsher
At courthouse @ltdanchoi and others just brought in
10 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Treehugger:
162 Tar Sands Pipeline Protesters Have Now Been Arrested Outside White House
52 more protesters were just reported arrested at the ongoing civil disobedience outside of the White House, bringing the tally to 162 arrested over three days. A diverse group of activists are gathered there to protest the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would inextricably hook the U.S. up to the dirtiest fuel source on the planet: Canada's tar sands. If the U.S. government approves the pipeline, preeminent climatologist James Hansen says that it will be "game over" for the global climate.
And that's why over 2,000 people have signed up to protest the XL, and are risking arrest outside the White House as I type these words.
USAToday
Tar sands pipeline protesters arrested at White House
Chanting "Yes we can," about five dozen protesters held a third consecutive day of protests Monday morning against a 1,661-mile Keystone XL pipeline extension, and 52 of them were arrested by the U.S. Park Police. A total of 162 people have been arrested since the protest began, according to Daniel Kessler, spokesman of the Rainforest Action Network, which has helped to organize the sit-in.
@janehamsher Jane Hamsher
Ankle chains on @ltdanchoi in court after 2 days in jail 4 a charge that does not carry jail time according 2 judge (failure 2 obey)
9 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
(Emphasis added)
@janehamsher Jane Hamsher
Choi & sleisinger have open cases, but Weis only has 2 previous protest arrests that were resolved. #tarsands
3 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
@dcjams Jamie Nolan
I'm out! And exhausted after barely sleeping last night, but it was worth it. In other news, WOW, that's me! http://ow.ly/... #NoKXL
4 minutes ago via HootSuite
@david_turnbull David Turnbull
Two hours until @TarSandsAction training for tomorrow starts. Could not be more excited! #nokxl
6 minutes ago via TweetDeck
@climatebrad Brad Johnson
RT @janekleeb: Three Nebraskans have been arrested, the men from our state still sitting in #tarsandsaction #nokxl campl.us/dYYB
3 hours ago via TweetDeck
Baltimore Sun:
Going to jail for the environment
President Obama can choose between a clean energy future and dirty tar sands oil
Around 3:30 pm eastern:
They were arrested for failing to remain in motion on the sidewalk, said David Schlosser, a U.S. Park Police spokesman.
(Emphasis added)
http://fuelfix.com/...
@janehamsher Jane Hamsher
#tarsands 3 entered a plea of not guilty, will return to court on Sept 1
9 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
ThinkProgress:
VIDEO: Tar Sands Protesters Arrested Outside The White House
Today, dozens more protesters sat down on the sidewalk in front of the White House and refused to move. Police moved in to arrest 52 demonstrators, and many onlookers shouted “Thank you!” to those committing these acts of civil disobedience. ThinkProgress was at the scene:
Around 4:00 pm eastern:
@TarSandsAction Tar Sands Action
UPDATE: Saturday arrestees to be released momentarily. Support Tar Sands Action arrestees here: www.TarSandsActivistSupport.org #noKXL
14 minutes ago via TweetDeck
@climatebrad Brad Johnson
Daryl Hannah is joining the #nokxl @tarsandsaction thkpr.gs/oOCGdI
21 minutes ago via TweetDeck
@Agent350 Jamie Henn
I'm down at the courthouse watching #NoKXL protestors released. Cheers, tears, and a lot of pride.
5 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
@Agent350 Jamie Henn
Great to see @politico down here coveing the release. More media coming in.
4 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
CBS News
Dozens more arrested in oil pipeline protest
By noon today, police began arresting more demonstrators, including 68-year-old Patricia Warwick of Toronto.
A 65-year-old woman from Massachusetts who's celebrating her birthday was also arrested.
Hastings Tribune
Nebraskans arrested in Keystone XL Pipeline protestes
WASHINGTON — Hastings resident Jane Kleeb was among eight protesters from Nebraska — six of whom were arrested — demonstrating outside the White House this morning on Day 3 of a two-week protest over the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast.
A second group of 8-10 Nebraskans is slated to participate in the protest on Sept. 2. More than 2,000 pipeline opponents are expected to participate in the "Tarsands Action: Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline" event, said Kleeb, who heads the political action group BoldNebraska
OpEd News
October2011 Movement Urges Solidarity with Oil Pipeline Tar Sands Protesters
Nebraska StatePaper.com
XL Pipeline protest sees Nebraskans on front line at the White House
The proposed TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline would run through a portion of Nebraska’s porous Sand Hills and over the Ogallala Aquifer. The project has faced opposition from environmental groups in Canada and the United States.
Protests are planned through September 3rd.
@Agent350 Jamie Henn
@billmckibben and Gus Speth are free #NoKXL
11 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
@Agent350 Jamie Henn
@billmckibben "I'm so glad to hear more people are getting arrested. We aren't dettered." #NoKXL
11 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
@Agent350 Jamie Henn
@billmckibben "We're getting a sense of the surge of energy Pres Obama could release by denying this pipeline" #NoKXL
11 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
@Agent350 Jamie Henn
@billmckibben The first thing they took away from us were our Obama 08 buttons. #NoKXL
10 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Around 4:30 pm eastern:
@christineirvine Christine Irvine
by TarSandsAction
@TarSandsAction activists are released! yfrog.com/hsr38bhqj
17 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
@janehamsher Jane Hamsher
Pic: @billmckibben released fm jail #tarsands yfrog.com/kjytsjqj
13 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
@janehamsher Jane Hamsher
Lucas burdick @danchoi and @johnchandley: 3 generations of procedures #tarsands yfrog.com/h2dyrsij
8 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Around 5:30 pm eastern:
Democracy Now:
Over 110 People Arrested Outside White House in Ongoing Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline Protest
Dr. Sydney Parker, arrested protester: "We are here because this is not just an environmental issue, it’s also a very big health issue. And that’s why we’ve come out today, and that’s why we’re so committed. So, personally, I have never been arrested before. I’m not—you know, I don’t do this for fun. I’m here because I think it is such an important issue that it really demands this kind of action, and it demands that level of commitment from myself."
The Hill:
US Chamber assails NY Times over oil pipeline
The powerful business group, on its blog Monday, accuses the Times of casting its lot with “anti-growth” green activists that are pushing the White House to block TransCanada’s planned 1,700-mile line from Alberta to Gulf Coast refineries.
The Iowa Independent:
Keystone XL protests lead to arrests
“It’s not the easiest thing on earth for law-abiding folk to come risk arrest. But this pipeline has emerged as the single clear test of the president’s willingness to fight for the environment,” said environmentalist and author Bill McKibben, who is spearheading the protests and was arrested this morning. “So I wore my Obama ’08 button, and I carry a great deal of hope in my heart that we will see that old Obama emerge.
TheChronicleHerald.ca:
Toronto senior among activists arrested in D.C.
U.S. doctors join oilsands pipeline protesters
WASHINGTON — A Canadian woman was among as many as 50 environmental activists handcuffed and taken to jail Sunday on the second day of peaceful White House protests against TransCanada’s controversial Keystone XL pipeline.
@david_turnbull David Turnbull
Just arrived at @TarSandsAction training. Big crowd! So excited! #nokxl
28 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
@david_turnbull David Turnbull
Grandmas from MT just introduced themselves to huge applause. Excited to join them tmrrow! #nokxl yfrog.com/h2y69goj
3 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
Around 6:30 pm eastern:
@TarSandsAction Tar Sands Action
#noKXL 4th training: underway. Back in St. Stephens church- everyone fired up to meet each other and make some change
57 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Dan Choi is back:
@ltdanchoi Dan Choi
Honored to spend the past weekend in jail with patriots @tarsandsaction #tarsands65 #nokxl ... You are all heroes.
54 seconds ago via web
@BenWest Ben West
.@billmckibben is out of jail in time to be on @DemocracyNow! Tuesday - #noKXL #TarSandsAction owl.li/69TRY STREAM 8am EDT @350 #p2
8 minutes ago via TweetDeck
@SenatorSanders Bernie Sanders
Video: Sen. Sanders on the #KeystoneXL pipeline. youtu.be/atjSaBEb_PI #NOKXL #TarSands #TarSandsAction
55 minutes ago via web
Sit In, Stand Up: Tar Sands Expansion Get National Attention