February, 28 2014, 10:15am EDT
XL Dissent Gains Momentum: Over 1,000 Youth Expected at White House Rally, More than 300 Will Risk Arrest in Act of Civil Disobedience
As the fight over the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline seems be accelerating towards a final decision, protestors are turning up the heat on President Obama to reject the project with a major, youth-led protest at the White House this weekend called "XL Dissent."
WASHINGTON
As the fight over the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline seems be accelerating towards a final decision, protestors are turning up the heat on President Obama to reject the project with a major, youth-led protest at the White House this weekend called "XL Dissent."
More than 1,000 students and youth from across the country have signed up to take part in a march to the White House from Georgetown University, where President Obama laid out his "climate test" for the pipeline this summer. Once there, more than 300 youth are expected to risk arrest in a sit-in, the largest youth act of civil disobedience at the White House in a generation.
The young people represent over 50 colleges and universities and are taking action in solidarity with groups on the frontlines of dirty energy expansion and climate impacts, such as First Nations and refining communities, ranchers and farmers along the route, and those fighting tar sands expansion in Michigan and beyond.
Press are invited to interview students at the Thurgood Marshall Center on Saturday, from 1:00-4:00pm, or on Sunday at either the rally beginning at Georgetown at 10:00am or at the White House rally beginning at 11:30am.
Here is a full schedule of the weekend's events:
Saturday, March 1
Location: Thurgood Marshall Center, 1816 12th St NW, Washington, DC
12:00-4:00pm: Fossil Fuel Divestment Meetup
Hundreds of students from across the country will come together to share strategies and tactics for the growing fossil fuel divestment movement that has spread to over 300 colleges and universities.
5:00pm-9:00pm: Nonviolent Direct Action Training (closed to press)
Students will take part in a NVDA training to prepare for Sunday's sit-in at the White House.
Sunday, March 2
Location: Georgetown University to Lafayette Park & White House
10:00am: Rally at Georgetown University's Red Square to kick-off the day's events
10:20-11:30am: March from Georgetown to Lafayette Park
The march will begin at Georgetown University, head East on O St, South on Wisconsin, East on M St., East on Penn, and East on H St. to Lafayette Park.
10:30am: Rally Outside Secretary of State John Kerry's House
Youth will rally outside Sec. Kerry's house on O St. with a banner that reads "Sec. Kerry: Don't Tar Your Legacy" to push him to recommend that President Obama reject the pipeline.
11:30am-12:15pm: Rally at Lafayette Park
Speakers will include youth leaders and representatives from communities that would be impacted by the Keystone XL pipeline, as well as those on the frontlines of other dirty energy developments and the climate crisis.
12:15pm-1:00pm: White House Sit-in
At least 300 youth are expected to risk arrest in sit-in on the sidewalk in front of the White House fence.
350 is building a future that's just, prosperous, equitable and safe from the effects of the climate crisis. We're an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.
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[image or embed]
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