August, 12 2013, 08:00am EDT
Today: Activists to Risk Arrest at State Department in DC in Protest of the Keystone XL Pipeline
200 Expected to Stage Sit-in, Many Risking Arrest
WASHINGTON
Activists will stage a sit-in and a protest at the State Department building in Washington, DC today, August 12, in opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. The sit-in is the second planned act of civil disobedience that CREDO, Rainforest Action Network and the Other 98% have staged this summer to maintain pressure on the president to keep his promise to fight climate change by rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline.
The State Department just announced an investigation into Environmental Resources Management (ERM), the contractor that drafted the latest controversial environmental analysis of the Keystone XL pipeline. Recent revelations show that ERM failed to disclose ties with TransCanada, the foreign oil company seeking approval to build the pipeline through American soil, and with the powerful oil lobby, the American Petroleum Institute. In November 2011, President Obama postponed a decision on the pipeline until 2013, in the midst of a delegitimized review process conducted by another oil-industry compromised contractor, Cardno Entrix. It's time for President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry to reject the Keystone XL pipeline once and for all.
What Sit-in and protest at the State Department to stop Keystone XL.
Who: 200 people, including many who will risk arrest. The event is organized by CREDO, Rainforest Action Network and the Other 98%, and will include grassroots activists who helped elect President Obama in 2008 and 2012, including activists who currently volunteer for Organizing for Action (OFA).
When: 8:45am, Monday, August 12th (sit-in will begin promptly at 9 am ET)
Where: The State Department, 2201 C St NW, Washington, DC
Visuals: Activists will hold signs and stage a sit-in at the State Department office. Across from the sit-in, protesters will gather to rally in support of those risking arrest.
More than 70,000 people have signed the group's Pledge of Resistance to risk arrest in peaceful, dignified civil disobedience, if President Obama's administration issues a draft National Interest Determination recommending approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. Monday's action is the second civil disobedience action the groups have organized to maintain pressure on the president to keep his promise to fight climate change and reject the Keystone XL pipeline.
Read the Pledge of Resistance here: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/kxl_pledge
CREDO Action, part of CREDO Mobile, is a social change network of over five million activists, sending tens of millions of petition signatures and hundreds of thousands of phone calls to decision-makers each year. CREDO Action members also participate in meetings, protests and other direct action for progressive change.
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