15 climate activists arrested in Boston after protests disrupt morning commute
Protestors shut down routes and marched in an early-morning demonstration against fossil fuels
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.People protesting the climate crisis have been arrested in Boston after they blocked traffic during Wednesday’s morning commute.
Five people were arrested for blocking an entrance to Interstate 93, Massachusetts State Police posted on Twitter, a major traffic route through the heart of the city. State police confirmed the five arrests, and that they seized barrels that could have been used by protestors to form a roadblock, in a statement emailed to The Independent.
The Boston Police Department also said that officers were responding to protests in the city and that traffic at Seaport Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue was being diverted.
In a statement late Wednesday, the Boston police told The Independent that they had arrested 10 people, bringing the total number of arrests to 15.
The group behind the protests, Extinction Rebellion Boston (XR Boston), put out a graphic on Facebook that read: “We’re Sorry.”
“We understand that we have interrupted your life today, and we know that your life is important,” the post continued. “That is why we are fighting to protect it, and all lives, before we run out of time.”
Photos and videos posted to XR Boston’s Twitter account show protestors marching through the streets with a brass band, and blocking traffic near downtown.
“Hey hey, ho ho, fossil fuels have got to go,” protesters chanted.
The Independent has reached out to Extinction Rebellion Boston for comment.
The climate activist group’s Facebook post also called on Massachusetts to stop building new fossil fuel infrastructure, and said that “conventional” methods of advocacy like writing letters to Congress and petitions have failed.
“Nonviolent disruptive action is the only tool we have left to force our governments into action,” the post read.
In a statement obtained byBoston.com, XR Boston said that the locations of the traffic disruptions were chosen to “clog the Central Artery of Boston to prevent employees from getting into the financial district and Seaport”.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation put out a notice on Twitter Tuesday night that protests could disrupt traffic during the morning commute.
The Boston Globe reported that at one point, the protestors sang a climate-themed parody of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”, a Civil War-era American song.
The action is part of a “week of rebellion” organized by XR Boston, with events and protests scheduled throughout the week.
Many other climate groups are holding marches, meetings and protests around the world this week as the United Nations General Assembly meets in New York.
This article has been updated to reflect the number of arrests
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments