Keystone XL Pipeline protests in the US

US police pepper spray and arrest pipeline protesters

The Tar Sands Blockade is a group protesting against the construction of a pipeline going through East Texas, US. (File photo)

Press TV,

24 November, 2012

US police have pepper sprayed a group of activists protesting against the construction of a pipeline carrying toxic tar sand to refineries in East Texas.

Texas police pepper sprayed 40 activists and charged four with criminal mischief and criminal trespass, while protesting against the construction of a pipeline going from Alberta Canada to East Texas, which they say will result in the waters of Texas becoming toxic. 

The protesters chanted, “Go back to Canada” and waved signs with texts saying “TransCanada: No eminent domain for private gain” and “Don’t mix Canadian tar with Texas water.”

When police came to the scene, they pepper sprayed the group and those who did not want to unlock themselves from TransCanada’s equipment were continued sprayed on until they untied themselves.

Many locals are infuriated with TransCanada’s treatment of landowners, which has made the company notorious by taking easements from landowners who do not sign with the company.

“If you don’t want to sign, they just take your land from you. It doesn’t seem right,” said a nearby resident Jeanette Singleton.

Since beginning of September when the weekly protests begun, 43 protesters including one owner of the land the easement went through have been arrested.

The group behind the protest, the Tar Sands Blockade, includes landowners and environmental advocates from across the US and the blockade has waged a nonviolent guerilla campaign against the construction of TransCanada’s Keystone XL.