BP’s Washington, D.C., Headquarters Will Be Site of June 4 Protest and Mock Citizen’s Arrest by Public Citizen, Environmental Justice and Green Job Advocate Allies
MEDIA ADVISORY
June 2, 2010
BP’s Washington, D.C., Headquarters Will Be Site of June 4 Protest and Mock Citizen’s Arrest by Public Citizen, Environmental Justice and Green Job Advocate Allies
Oil Giant Faces Criminal Probe, Wrath of American People
WHAT: Citizen’s arrest and demonstration at BP’s Washington, D.C., headquarters
Public Citizen, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Energy Action Coalition, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 350.org, Center for Biological Diversity and Hip Hop Caucus will articulate the outrage Americans everywhere are feeling by making a citizen’s arrest of BP CEO Tony Hayward.
The public interest and environmental groups will list charges against the corporation, including worker safety and environmental violations, price-gouging, negligence and the inability to adequately respond to the mounting catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding communities. The charges will culminate in a finding of criminal negligence and the presentation of a prison jumpsuit fitted for Hayward.
The action is intended to underscore the seriousness of BP’s failure to protect the lives of workers and the environment, and to highlight the need for the U.S. to move away from inherently dangerous and dirty fuel to clean energy sources.
WHEN: Noon EDT, Friday, June 4
WHERE: BP, 1101 New York Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
VISUALS: Giant inflatable oil barrel, signs and banners, list of charges and “Tony Hayward” in prison jumpsuit
WHY: Hayward oversees a company that is responsible for causing the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. BP has one of the worst records of environmental and worker safety violations of any oil company operating in the U.S. The company was on criminal probation at the time of the accident for violating two U.S. environmental laws. It has paid $730 million in fines and settlements in the past few years for environmental and worker safety violations, as well as manipulating energy markets.
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