Seven Greenpeace USA activists finally climbed down a tower crane just a few blocks from the White House on Wednesday afternoon, nearly three hours after they unfurled a billboard-sized banner stating “Resist.”
The protesters climbed the crane in the early morning hours Wednesday and by 10 a.m. had unfurled the banner, amid loud cheers from the crowd gathered on the sidewalks nearby.
The crane is at the site of the former Washington Post building, which was torn down last year. A new building is being erected to serve as the headquarters for mortgage giant Fannie Mae. Several tower cranes are at the site, and some of the protesters tethered themselves to one of them.
The protest came one day after President Trump signed executive orders to authorize the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.
Protest by @Greenpeaceusa outside the @WhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/YemoBPO27J
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 25, 2017
“Resist” has become a catchword for those opposing Trump, who also describe themselves as “the resistance.” The Democratic National Committee Tuesday began using the hashtag #resist.
“It is plain that communities and cities across this country are alive with the spirit of resistance, the spirit of speaking out, and the spirit of taking action. Our goal here today was to display a beacon of that spirit. Now that we’ve done that, it’s time to get to work,” said activist and Greenpeace Inc. Board Chair Karen Topakian in a statement. “We are ready to join the powerful movement on the ground.”
Greenpeace USA has taken responsibility for the protest on the crane against Trump’s “climate denial, racism, misogyny, homophobia, and bigotry.”
“[S]even activists deployed a 70-foot by 35-foot banner of the word ‘Resist’ above the White House. The activists from around the country are still in place, calling for those who want to resist Trump’s attacks on environmental, social, economic, and educational justice to contribute to a better America,” it said in a statement.
“People in this country are ready to resist and rise up in ways they have never done before,” Topakian said.
“While Trump’s disdain and disrespect for our democratic institutions scare me, I am so inspired by the multigenerational movement of progress that is growing in every state. Greenpeace has used nonviolence to resist tyrannical bullies since 1971, and we’re not going to stop now.”
A Greenpeace spokesman said the protesters were wearing diapers, “because they are pros at this.” He also said similar protests would take place like this one over the next four years.
(AP Photo)
The D.C. police said in a statement, “While we respect everyone’s right to protest, today’s actions are extremely dangerous and unlawful. Multiple government resources are being tied up, and unfortunately streets are blocked while first responders try to safely address this matter.”
Police closed down “15th St between L & M St and L St between L St & M St NW,” the D.C. Police Department tweeted early Wednesday morning.
Protesters@15th & L St NW
15th St NW is open.
1500 block of L St NW is still closed.— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 25, 2017
15th St between L & M St and L St between L St & M St NW are closed due to a Police Activity
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 25, 2017
Kelly Cohen contributed to this report.
