September, 22 2010, 01:23pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Alex Moore, Friends of the Earth, 202-222-0733 (office), amoore@foe.org
Cat Glenn, New York Action Network, cglenn@fordham.edu
Pipeline Protesters Greet President Obama at Fundraiser in New York
Activists against piping dirty tar sands oil into the U.S. ask Obama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline
WASHINGTON
As President Obama arrives here for a Democratic campaign fundraiser
today, activists with signs and banners are calling on him to oppose the
Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry dirty tar sands oil to the U.S.
"The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would leave many communities
vulnerable to oil spills and leaks," said Alex Moore, dirty fuels
campaigner with Friends of the Earth. "Piping tar sands oil across the
United States would pollute the air and water, ultimately harming the
health of people in the path of the pipeline."
The demonstration taking place today outside the Roosevelt Hotel in
Manhattan was organized by Friends of the Earth and New York Action
Network. Demonstrators are confronting the president with a banner
reading: "President Obama: Stop the Keystone Pipeline, Protect Our
Water."
At the same time in Washington, D.C., a delegation of indigenous
leaders from the United States and Canada were meeting with the White
House Council on Environmental Quality to express their concerns about
tar sands development in their communities.
"When New Yorkers elected President Obama, we were voting for the clean
energy future he promised, not more dirty oil pipelines," said Cat
Glenn, a student at Fordham University and member of the New York Action
Network. "President Obama has an opportunity to show leadership by
denying the permit for the pipeline and preventing future fossil fuel
disasters."
The Keystone XL pipeline would carry oil from Canada's tar sands, the
dirtiest oil available, through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas,
Oklahoma and Texas. In recent weeks, Congress has been investigating
pipeline safety following incidents in Michigan and Illinois that
spilled a combined one million gallons of oil.
More information on the Keystone XL pipeline is available at: https://www.foe.org/keystone-xl-pipeline
Friends of the Earth fights for a more healthy and just world. Together we speak truth to power and expose those who endanger the health of people and the planet for corporate profit. We organize to build long-term political power and campaign to change the rules of our economic and political systems that create injustice and destroy nature.
(202) 783-7400LATEST NEWS
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The threats against Gov. Evers in Wisconsin undermine the foundational principles of our democracy: the separation of powers, the rule of law, and the right of state governments to operate without undue federal interference. We must reject this overreach. allvotingislocal.org/statements/w...
[image or embed]
— All Voting is Local (@allvotingislocal.bsky.social) May 3, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Trump administration officials and the president himself have repeatedly threatened state and local officials as the White House rushes ahead with its lawless mass deportation campaign, which has ensnared tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants and at least over a dozen U.S. citizens—including children.
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One Republican member of the Wisconsin State Assembly on Friday morning posted an AI-generated image of Evers in handcuffs at the state capitol, with Trump standing behind him in police uniform.
"I'm used to Republicans and the right wing lying about me. It comes with the job," Evers said Friday. "But, this time, these lies came at a cost. I haven't broken the law. I haven't committed a crime. And I've never encouraged or directed anyone to break any laws or commit any crimes."
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Watch Homan's comments to reporters:
NEW: When asked about Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers telling state officials not to cooperate with ICE, Border Czar Tom Homan seems to signal arrests could be imminent:
“Wait until you see what’s coming. I meant what I said.” pic.twitter.com/xJxw5sBVY6
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 1, 2025
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Evers said Friday that Homan's threats are "chilling" and "should be of concern to every Wisconsinite and every American who cares about this country and the values we hold dear."
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"And as disgusted as I am about the continued actions of the Trump administration, I am not afraid," he added. "I have never once been discouraged from doing the right thing, and I will not start today."
Watch Evers' remarks in full:
The Wisconsin governor's full address is transcribed below:
Good morning, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here.
I’m speaking to you today as your governor but also as a concerned American.
Yesterday, a Trump administration official, in not so many words, apparently threatened to arrest me for distributing guidance that asked state agency employees to consult with an attorney if federal agents show up at state buildings with legal documents.
The goal of this guidance was simple—to provide clear, consistent instructions to state employees and ensure they have a lawyer to help them comply with all federal and state laws. Nothing more, nothing less.
But Republicans and their right-wing allies, including Elon Musk, lied about this guidance, spread misinformation, accused me of doing things I didn’t do or say, and fueled a fake controversy of their own creation.
Now, I’m used to Republicans and the right wing lying about me. It comes with the job. But, this time, these lies came at a cost. I haven't broken the law. I haven't committed a crime. And I’ve never encouraged or directed anyone to break any laws or commit any crimes.
But when President Trump's hand-picked appointee, Tom Homan, was asked about me and this guidance after he apparently threatened to arrest elected officials across the country, he said, "Wait 'til you see what's coming." Overnight, Republican lawmakers piled on, encouraging the Trump administration to arrest me.
Chilling threats like this should be of concern to every Wisconsinite and every American who cares about this country and the values we hold dear.
We live in the United States of America, folks. We are a country of laws. The rule of law matters. Following the law matters.
In this country, the federal government doesn't get to abuse its power to threaten everyday Americans. In this country, the federal government doesn’t get to arrest American citizens who have not committed a crime. In this country, we don't threaten to persecute people just because they belong to a different political party.
These threats represent a concerning trajectory in this country. We now have a federal government that will threaten or arrest an elected official—or even everyday American citizens—who have broken no laws, committed no crimes, and done nothing wrong.
And as disgusted as I am about the continued actions of the Trump administration, I am not afraid. I have never once been discouraged from doing the right thing, and I will not start today.
I swore an oath when I took this office to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Wisconsin and to faithfully discharge the duties of this office to the best of my ability. I will never waver from that promise.
I hope and pray every elected and appointed official in this country, including the president of the United States of America, will do the same.
Forward, and for Wisconsin, always.
Thank you.
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