Today was a powerful day. We stopped construction completely. Hundreds of people gathered at the site and 13 people were arrested. We showed that we have something really powerful on our side: the power of people.

People came out to the compressor station construction site from all over, to collectively witness Enbridge’s injustice firsthand.

Folks came out from Boston, central and western Mass, and even Maine. It was a powerful and inspiring gathering. We had a few folks join us from Wendell, where they are trying to protect a forest from being destructed for logging - read more about their effort here: Save Wendell State Forest. One of their members, Morgan Mead, risked arrest at the site today.

Thirteen brave individuals were arrested today for putting their bodies on the line to stop the construction of this ill-conceived project. We thank all of them for the sacrifice they made today. Two individuals entered the construction site and locked their bodies to construction equipment. Soon after, workers were forced to turn of their machines and walk off the site.

Many others blocked the entrance to the gate to prevent trucks from being able to enter.

Enbridge began their rogue construction of the compressor station in early December, after the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) granted rubber-stamped approval of their permits. MassDEP ignored important data and regulations while reviewing Enbridge’s applications, and instead relied on data from the project proponent. MassDEP failed to do their job of protecting people and the environment, which has forced community members to do their job for them.

Beyond concerns about the impacts of building this facility on a toxic waste dump and the additional air quality hazards in a community already plagued by industry, the Weymouth compressor would exacerbate climate change by opening a channel for fracked-gas exports. Many at the demonstration today voiced solidarity with the Wetsu’wet’en Indigenous people fighting another gas export pipeline slated to violate their lands.

Our friends were released from the Weymouth Police Department later in day. All are doing well. They will have to return to court tomorrow, February 20 and Wednesday, February 26 (some on one day and some on the other). We encourage folks to show up at the courthouse to offer court support. Court starts at 8:30AM and will be at the Quincy District Court. There is metered parking nearby and the Quincy Center T stop is a short walk away.

We thank all of these brave individuals who put their bodies on the line today in the fight for justice, not just for the folks living nearby, but for everyone who will be impacted by this ill-conceived project.

This fight is bigger than just Weymouth. The Atlantic Bridge project, with Weymouth at the center, would export fracked-gas to Europe by way of so-called Nova Scotia where a gas storage cavern would illegally violate Mi’kmaq treaty rights.

We stand in solidarity with all of those fighting to protect their land, water, and air from the destruction and greed of the fossil fuel industry.

Video:

Watch a video recap of the action here:

Video Credit: Robert Lamothe, Film our Way Films

Statements:

Please read the statements of the people who were arrested today, explaining why they chose to put their body on the line.

Media Coverage:

95.9 WATD-FM - Weymouth: Protest at Compressor Station Site Today (link)

Kiss108 - Hundreds Gather To Protest Enbridge Compressor Station In Weymouth (link)

NBC News Boston Channel 10 - Demonstrators Arrested at Protest of Weymouth Compressor Station (link)

The Patriot Ledger - More than a dozen arrested at Weymouth compressor station protest (link)

The Salem News - Gas compressor protest results in arrests (link)

WBZ Radio - Hundreds Gather To Protest Enbridge Compressor Station In Weymouth (link)

Weymouth News - More than a dozen arrested at Weymouth compressor station protest (link)

Weymouth Patch - Weymouth Compressor Opponents Lock Themselves To Equipment (link)

WHDH 7 News - Dozens of protesters arrested at Weymouth compression center worksite (link)

Photos:

Please scroll through a beautiful collection of photos from today’s action, courtesy of Marilyn Humphries. Thank you, Marilyn! You can view Marilyn’s work on her website: Humphriesphotography.com