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Protesters Arrested at Sabal Trail Construction Site

arrests2 In: Protesters Arrested at Sabal Trail Construction Site | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River

arrests1
Gainesville Sun submitted photo

Sabal Trail has become a symbol for corporate greed and corruption in our government which bullies the citizen and rapes our land.  It is now a synonym for the corrupt authorities and agencies  giving permission to the rich few to run roughshod over everyone and everything else.  It has become one with the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota where thousands have been protesting for months, with a blackout from our national news programs, another example of the power of money over justice.  Protests in Florida have burst forth exponentially in recent weeks as the actual digging and drilling has begun, and more and more people are learning about this unnecessary travesty to our state.

The following article appeared in the Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016 Gainesville Sun.  Go to this link to see the entire article.

Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
-A river is like a life:  once taken, it cannot be brought back-


Protesters arrested at Sabal Trail construction site

Saturday

Posted Nov 12, 2016 at 7:40 PM Updated Nov 12, 2016 at 7:40 PM

By Cindy Swirko

Protesters of the Sabal Trail pipeline were arrested at the Gilchrist County construction site Saturday, and opponents of the gas transmission line said protests will continue.

The Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office arrested 14 people, including one who had locked himself to a tanker truck that was delivering water needed for the construction, said Cara Jennings, a pipeline opponent.

The others who were arrested were on the roadside holding signs, she added.

Jennings said the 14 remained in the Gilchrist County Jail Saturday and will have a first appearance hearing Sunday.

“With the exception of the person who was locked to the truck, everybody else was complying with the sheriff’s orders but they chose to arrest everybody,” Jennings told The Sun. “Absolutely, people are going to continue to protest. There is a call for a larger civil disobedience on Nov. 26.”

Gilchrist sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jeff Manning said Saturday that all of those arrested were interfering with the truck trying to get to the site.

“The protesters got in the road and stopped one of the water trucks from coming into the site. One used a bike lock and locked himself to the trailer. He didn’t have a key,” Manning said. “The protesters who were arrested either climbed onto the truck or got underneath the truck. At that point they were obstructing the truck from being able to get in.”

Manning said charges varied depending on the action of individual protesters but included trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Jennings said the arrested protesters included residents of Gilchrist and Alachua counties. Names of the protesters were not available.

Concern about the pipeline in North Central Florida centers on it being built under the Santa Fe River and through porous karst geology. Opponents say ruptures or leaks can harm water quality, springs and have other environmental impacts.

The permitting of the pipeline has been challenged in a lawsuit filed by the Sierra Club, the Gulf Restoration Network and Flint Riverkeeper.

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Gainesville Sun submitted photo

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3 Comments

  1. Hi Jim — no mention of Sacred Water Camp? The 1st and only true encampment in Florida to fight the pipeline??
    Perhaps we should talk as I am not speaking of weekend warriors here — We are the camp that started this revolution of action and have assisted Water is Life in all but one event – at great expense and sacrifice please contact me

    Debra Johnson – 386-209-5886

    1. Hi Debra: the post was the newspaper article. I did not mean to slight anyone, and apologize if that happened. Note that I did make a special post on your camp after I visited there. I also mentioned it in the aerial photo where it appears, although it was hidden in the trees. Yes, we appreciate the efforts and sacrifices your group makes.
      Jim

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