The self-proclaimed vanguard of the local extreme environmental movement – about a dozen demonstrators from a group called Rising Tide Seattle, which bills itself as an “all-volunteer collective dedicated to taking direct action to confront the causes of climate change” – have spent the day after Labor Day blocking railroad tracks at a Burlington Northern Santa Fe yard today. Some have chained themselves to the railroad tracks, helping block an oil train and freight trains.
According to the Seattle Times, about two dozen other demonstrators stood on a nearby overpass this morning carrying signs that said, “Coal-oil-gas. None shall pass” and “Cut oil trains, not conductors.”
Rising Tide Seattle spokeswomen Abby Brockway hysterically said, “People in the Pacific Northwest are forming a thin green line that will keep oil, coal and gas in the ground… Just one of these proposed terminals would process enough carbon to push us past the global warming tipping point — we won’t let that happen.”
Given her hyperbole, it appears that Ms. Brockway might be trying out for a job in the Jay Inslee administration. But the protest does beg the question, as it dragged on through the morning, where does the Governor stand on protestors interrupting interstate and perhaps international commerce? And, why hasn’t Snohomish County Executive – and former County Sheriff – John Lovick weighed in with a solution?
Or is it that the Democrat “leaders” prefer to let other do their bidding, without actually having to get involved themselves?
It’s not as if these protestors are being secretive about their law-breaking. The group documented its efforts on Facebook, at times using #noneshallpass and soliciting donations.
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<div class=”fb-post” data-href=”https://www.facebook.com/RisingTideSeattle/photos/a.572761656170682.1073741835.375499119230271/639624626151051/?type=1” data-width=”466″><div class=”fb-xfbml-parse-ignore”><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/RisingTideSeattle/photos/a.572761656170682.1073741835.375499119230271/639624626151051/?type=1“>Post</a> by <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/RisingTideSeattle“>Rising Tide Seattle</a>.</div></div>
Due to the fact that demonstrators are trespassing, Everett police are “standing by and letting Burlington Northern Santa Fe police handle the situation.” Rising Tide Seattle, responding to the police’s apparent clearing of the support team and preparation for extractions, began soliciting donations for demonstrators’ “legal fund” on Facebook.
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<div class=”fb-post” data-href=”https://www.facebook.com/RisingTideSeattle/photos/a.572761656170682.1073741835.375499119230271/639695352810645/?type=1” data-width=”466″><div class=”fb-xfbml-parse-ignore”><a href=”https://www.facebook.com/RisingTideSeattle/photos/a.572761656170682.1073741835.375499119230271/639695352810645/?type=1“>Post</a> by <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/RisingTideSeattle“>Rising Tide Seattle</a>.</div></div>
According to the Washington Post, the FBI has, in the past, questioned members of Rising Tide North America—the umbrella organization of Rising Tide Seattle—in its attempt to combat eco-terrorism threats. Today, Rising Tide Seattle’s actions go beyond unlawfully disrupting the transportation of legal goods – demonstrators placed not only their lives in danger, but also the lives of those who must deal with their law-breaking.
But, will any state Democrats step up and say that?
Jay Inslee has yet to acknowledge the demonstration. Given the fact that five arrests were made, why hasn’t he issued a response concerning the clear danger demonstrators presented to themselves and others?
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