Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

13 demonstrators hang from Portland bridge to block Shell ship
KATU-TV ^ | Jul 29, 2015 at 4:56 AM | KATU.com Staff

Posted on 07/30/2015 7:17:53 AM PDT by Inspectorette

PORTLAND, Ore. – Protesters against Arctic drilling rappelled from the St. Johns Bridge early Wednesday morning to set up an aerial blockade of a Shell oil icebreaker in the port for repairs.

"They are creating a human barricade so that the Shell icebreaker cannot get through," said Annie Leonard, the executive director of Greenpeace U.S. "They are prepared to stay up there for days because that's what it is going to take to save the arctic."

The 13 Greenpeace protesters suspended themselves from the bridge around 3 a.m. Wednesday. One of them is from Portland.

“I think direct action is really powerful and also really inspiring because it shows people speak truth to power and what that looks like. And people who aren’t afraid to take more extreme messages and aren’t afraid to stand toe to toe,” said Georgia Hirsty via a Facetime interview as she swayed in the breeze suspended from the bridge. “Hopefully it doesn’t take a week for Shell to get the message.”

Hirsty came up from California to join the protest

Shell's icebreaker ship, called the Fennica, was set to depart at dawn after a gash in the hull was repaired in the Swan Island port. The Fennica was still dry docked Wednesday evening. According to Columbia River Bar Pilots, Wednesday’s departure was canceled. It could not say when or why the departure was canceled nor could it say when it will depart.

Shell spokesman Curtis Smith said in an email the Fennica will return to Alaska once final preparations are complete.

"As for the activities of the day, we respect the choice that anyone might make to protest based on Shell's Arctic aspirations; we just ask that they do so safely and within the boundaries of the law," Smith wrote.

Leonard said the 13 protesters have enough food and supplies to last a week, and they don't expect the boat to leave on Wednesday.

A flotilla of kayaktivists paddled into the Willamette just below the bridge. They were back on land by 7 a.m. and plan to redeploy this evening.

“What we’re doing is holding space on the water," said Maya Jarrad of the Climate Action Coalition. "We’re saying, ‘We were here first. This is our space. Please do not enter that space and create a dangerous situation for us.’”

It's unknown whether law enforcement agencies in the area plan on pressing charges against the protesters.

“It’s a complex and difficult situation," Oregon Department of Transportation's Don Hamilton said. "We are looking for the best way to resolve this. That may or may not end up involving criminal charges.”

The icebreaker is a vital part of Shell's exploration and spill-response plan off Alaska's northwest coast. It protects Shell's fleet from ice and carries equipment that can stop gushing oil.

Opponents of Arctic drilling worry that the area's remoteness and rough conditions will hamper cleanup efforts should a spill occur. "These climbers hanging on the bridge really are at this point the last thing standing between Shell's plan to drill in the Arctic and the Arctic," Leonard said. She said the protest has been handled extremely safely, and the suspended activists have support team members on the bridge deck. "So far we've had a very cooperative and polite relationship with the police," said Steve Nichols, one of the protesters acting as anchor support for a suspended activist. "We're doing it very safely. They've recognized that, and at the moment they are letting us proceed with our activities."

No arrests have been made, and Portland Police will continue to monitor the protest through the day, Sergeant Pete Simpson said. Traffic is moving across smoothly, however, pedestrians are barred from crossing the bridge. The activists started protesting Sunday when the Fennica first arrived in Portland for repairs.

"Drilling in the Arctic is probably the most crazy thing I've ever heard of in my life. I am a big fan of our president, and I am absolutely appalled he let this go through," Chris Fountain, a kayaktivist, told KATU News on Tuesday.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: criminals; energy; oil; wackos
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last
To: marktwain

Both of Oregon’s US senators back the protesters.


61 posted on 07/30/2015 12:38:25 PM PDT by Cold Heart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]

To: Inspectorette

Bridge now being closed. Police presence increased on bridge & police boats gathering below.

Federal judge in Alaska putting heavy fines on protest group.


62 posted on 07/30/2015 2:34:17 PM PDT by Cold Heart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Cold Heart

It seems a clear conspiracy to violate the company’s right to travel.

I would like to see the judge order that their computers and servers be taken into evidence. It is what happens in most conspiracy cases.

I wonder how many million greenpeace might have to pay out on this. The discovery alone, of all emails and files that might have aided in the conspiracy would be very, very interesting.

Greenpeace believes that they are above the law.


63 posted on 07/30/2015 3:01:55 PM PDT by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: All
Watching KPTV. They just said Greenpeace will be fined $2500 every hour they are up there, and every day the fine will go up another $2500.  photo good_zpsjriybrff.gif
64 posted on 07/30/2015 3:04:12 PM PDT by Ronald_Magnus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

$2500 per hour fine starting 1100hrs today, going up to $5000/hr tomorrow, $10,000/hr next day

Saw on tv one protester on bridge in cuffs.
Police boats towing kayaks
Fire fighter rope rescue teams rigging to go down. Don’t know what the plan is there.


65 posted on 07/30/2015 3:14:16 PM PDT by Cold Heart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: Cold Heart

Bridge is heavily used during rush hour. I used to cross it every day when I worked in Hillsboro. I don’t think the protesters will get much sympathy from the irate commuters, but it’s Portland, so who knows.


66 posted on 07/30/2015 3:20:15 PM PDT by Ronald_Magnus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Cold Heart

I want to see the emails coordinating the conspiracy.

Send federal marshals to Greenpeace HQ to prevent destruction of evidence.

A warrant should be easy to obtain, as the crime seems to be admitted openly.


67 posted on 07/30/2015 3:30:30 PM PDT by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Inspectorette

Live link, anyone?


68 posted on 07/30/2015 3:42:12 PM PDT by Rebelbase ( NASCAR 2015: "Bootlegger to boot licker"--FReeper Crim)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cold Heart

It would seem that Vigor industrial, the owner of the dry dock, would have a civil case against Greenpeace.

Greenpeace had damaged their reputation as a reliable place to have repairs done.

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2014/11/north_americas_largest_drydock_1.html


69 posted on 07/30/2015 3:51:22 PM PDT by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Cold Heart

One protester lowered down and arrested. Another one on the way down. Our dipwad Sen. Merkley siding with the scumbags. Our new governatrix is “closely following the situation “. She has been in talks with governor of Alaska.


70 posted on 07/30/2015 4:23:27 PM PDT by Inspectorette
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Inspectorette

Just saw a Clark County Sheriff boat. Glad to know our boys from WA are helping out.


71 posted on 07/30/2015 4:35:26 PM PDT by Ronald_Magnus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: SparkyBass

Cruise ship full of Latinos (Cruz ship?) “Senors y Senoras, El Trump pinatas are hanging from the bridge ahead. Bats are being passed out at the pool.”


72 posted on 07/30/2015 4:56:54 PM PDT by Lee Enfield (I identify as rich, cut me a check.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: Ronald_Magnus

Some nitwit locked himself to the railroad bridge BEFORE the St. John’s Bridge with a bicycle u-lock around his neck. Portland police did manage to cut the lock and thery are currently arresting him.

They have removed 3 of the 13 protesters hanging from the bridge. If it were up to me, they would be shot, the ropes would be cut, and their dead bodies would fall into the Willamette to be eaten by the fish.

I have NO sympathy for them. ALL environmental protesters should be subject to ‘shoot-on-sight’ orders if they try to interfere with energy search, extraction, or generation operations. I don’t care if a thousand die...we MUST, repeat MUST have energy to run this country.


73 posted on 07/30/2015 5:10:44 PM PDT by hoagy62 (Only one solution left.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: hoagy62

Looks like removing those three might have created enough of a path for the Shell ship to move through.

Drill baby, drill.


74 posted on 07/30/2015 5:26:14 PM PDT by Ronald_Magnus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 73 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase

Not sure if the link will work, but I am watching it here:
http://www.kptv.com/story/29674010/ppb-close-st-johns-bridge-in-both-directions?autostart=true


75 posted on 07/30/2015 5:26:47 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th (I was conceived in liberty, how about you?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 68 | View Replies]

To: Repeal The 17th

Local authorities should catch grief about not anticipating this protest and thus heading it off. I hope they’re at least guarding the Astoria bridge downriver at the mouth of the Columbia.


76 posted on 07/30/2015 5:32:41 PM PDT by Ronald_Magnus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Inspectorette
13 demonstrators hang

How come I am not allowed to make sentences stop where I want?

77 posted on 07/30/2015 5:34:17 PM PDT by Lazamataz (Republicans are nothing more than "beards" for Democrats.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Inspectorette
13 demonstrators hang from Portland bridge to block Shell ship

I was fooled by an overly optimistic headline into reading this thread.

5.56mm

78 posted on 07/30/2015 5:40:06 PM PDT by M Kehoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ronald_Magnus

Kayaks are swarming police and CG boats, not enough LE boats to fend them off. This was Phase Two of the protest. LE thought scumbags were standing down when a couple of the bridge hangers came down, but that’s when dozens more kayaks launched into the river.


79 posted on 07/30/2015 5:47:04 PM PDT by Inspectorette
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]

To: Inspectorette

People are now IN the water. LE trying to get them into boats.


80 posted on 07/30/2015 5:49:55 PM PDT by Inspectorette
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson