Photo: WBZ NewsRadio/Carl Stevens
SWAMPSCOTT, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) – Demonstrators with the climate action group Extinction Rebellion Massachusetts attached themselves to a boat parked outside Governor Baker's Swampscott home Tuesday morning, and State Police arrested the eight people one by one.
The 27-foot long, bright pink boat reading 'CLIMATE EMERGENCY' was parked around 7:00 a.m., protestors using metal devices to chain themselves as they demanded new climate action from the Baker administration. Citing disorderly conduct and trespassing, State Police cut loose and arrested the protestors over the course of a few hours, towing the boat around 10:00 a.m.
A Spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion says they wanted to send a message to the governor about the importance of clean energy, and demonstrators including Susan Lamont said the governor's energy infrastructure aren't sustainable.
"You know, we're in a climate emergency and the fact that we're putting in new infrastructure for fossil fuels is amazing," Lamont said. Protestors cited the controversial Weymouth natural gas compressor station, the planned Peabody gas power plant, which Lamont said "could be replaced with a solar array and batteries," and the East Boston substation, which was approved earlier this year.
Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio said the demonstrators would likely be arraigned in Lynn District Court Tuesday afternoon.
WBZ's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports:
Follow WBZ NewsRadio:Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|iHeartmedia App