Actress Daryl Hannah among dozens arrested during White House protest

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Actress Daryl Hannah among dozens arrested during White House protest

2011-08-31 10:31:13 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON (BNO NEWS) -- Around 100 environmental protesters, including Hollywood actress Daryl Hannah, were arrested during a protest outside the White House on Tuesday, NBC Washington reported.

Hannah, who has been arrested while advocating for environmental causes in the past, sat on the sidewalk in front of the White House with dozens of others protesting against a planned pipeline stretching from Canada through East Texas. Demonstrators refused three requests from U.S. Park Police to move.

"Sometimes it's necessary to sacrifice your freedom for a greater freedom," Hannah said in Lafayette Park before her arrest. "And we want to be free from the horrible death and destruction that fossil fuels cause, and have a clean energy future."

Tar Sands Action, the group organizing the protest, has said the Keystone pipeline is among the most important environmental decisions that confront the president. "President Obama must decide whether or not to grant a 'presidential permit' for a Canadian company, TransCanada, to begin construction of the Keystone XL, a 1,700 mile (2735 kilometers) pipeline from the Canadian tar sands to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico," the organization said in a statement.

The protest to push President Obama to deny the permit for the new oil pipeline began on August 21 when more than 100 protesters were also taken away by U.S. Park Police. Sgt. David Schlosser said Park Police made the arrests for the violation of White House demonstration rules, as reported by NBC.  

According to Tar Sands Action, over 500 Americans, including top climate scientists and religious leaders, have been arrested since the protest began. The protest is expected to continue until September 3.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-08-31

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