Environmental activists covered themselves with fake oil outside the Canadian consulate in Chicago Thursday to protest the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline.
While protesters chanted, “No pipeline,” several half-naked activists covered themselves in chocolate syrup, which they said represented oil. They then sat in the middle of the street in front of the consulate, pretending to be dead to highlight the environmental devastation they say the pipeline will cause.
Their dispute is over the proposed 1700-mile pipeline which would carry oil from Canada to the Texas Gulf coast.
“NATO uses its agenda to pursue oil in all these other countries. That’s half of why we’re waging war, right?” said protester Justin Bianchi, 35.
Occupy Chicago protester Natalie Wahlberg, 50, said: “Canada is a member of NATO and G8, and we are here today to demonstrate to the public that death and blood for oil is a dirty business.”
The event started in the financial district when bicyclists, escorted by police, stopped traffic on Michigan Avenue on their way to the northeast end of the Loop.
The demonstration, in which about 100 participated, was observed by Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy, along with CPD officers on bicycles.
“Obviously there was a little bit of traffic disruption but we facilitated the flow,” said McCarthy. “And here we are. We’re doing exactly what we said we were going to do.”
McCarthy called the demonstration peaceful, adding that no problems had developed.
