Local weather activists arrested after disrupting rush hour visitors in downtown Boston

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The Extinction Riot members referred to as for a ban on new fossil gas infrastructure in Massachusetts.

Local weather activists block visitors at South Station in downtown Boston on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. Kevin Martin/Boston Globe Workers

A number of local weather change activists had been arrested after disrupting rush hour visitors in downtown Boston Thursday morning as a part of a push to ban new fossil gas infrastructure.

The Boston chapter of Extinction Riot stated greater than 35 activists shut down visitors within the Monetary District early on Thursday, with teams marching on the street and creating visitors gridlock close to South Station.

The identical group was behind a deliberate demonstration that not too long ago prompted the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to shut early on Sept. 7.

XR Boston defined in a press launch that it’s calling on Gov. Maura Healey to decide to a coverage opposing new fossil gas infrastructure in Massachusetts and to work with state legislators to introduce a everlasting ban.

“When you end up caught in a gap step one is to cease digging,” XR Boston organizer Alex Chambers stated in a press release. “I don’t perceive why the Governor and her Local weather Chief usually are not taking step one to coping with the local weather emergency. As a teenager, my whole future is using on our authorities taking motion this decade, and never ready till 2050.”

On social media, Boston police acknowledged visitors impacts close to South Station and requested drivers to hunt an alternate route. 

A Boston Police Division spokesperson confirmed a number of individuals had been arrested in reference to the protest, telling Boston.com shortly after 8:30 a.m. that visitors was flowing.

XR Boston wrote an open letter to drivers impacted by Thursday’s demonstrations, providing an apology and a proof.

“We gave you a nasty morning. We made you late to work, or to a dentist appointment, or to an interview. No matter you wanted to do that morning, no matter you bought up early for, we acquired in your manner,” XR Boston wrote. “All of us had a tough day at this time, as a result of we predict it should make a greater tomorrow.”

The group cited some tangible results of local weather change, together with disastrous flooding in Vermont and deadly warmth in Phoenix over the summer season. XR Boston stated it has additionally introduced its issues on to lawmakers, however asserted that disruptive protests are a simpler manner of getting their message throughout.

“We don’t get pleasure from spending our mornings in entrance of vehicles, however we’re blocking these roads as a result of it’s confirmed to be one of the best ways to really change how our society approaches this catastrophe,” XR Boston stated.