SEATTLE -- A few hundred protesters blocked entrances to Terminal 5 in Seattle where Royal Dutch Shell's massive floating drill rig will be loaded up before heading to the waters off Alaska this summer.
The critics of Arctic oil drilling held banners and flags as they marched across a bridge to Terminal 5, temporarily closing the road during Monday morning's commute. Once at the terminal, they spread out across the entrances and rallied, danced and spoke for several hours before leaving the site.
A Shell spokesman said they anticipated the protests and they did not stop work on the floating drill rig
Twenty-two environmental groups from Seattle joined forces to send a message.
"Seattle does not welcome Shell in our city," said one protester.
Shouting "Shell No" they marched onto Spokane Street toward Terminal 5, shutting down traffic on the lower West Seattle bridge.
Seattle police officers on bicycles escorted the protesters during their march, and were already stationed in front of the terminal when the group of activists arrived. Police surrounded the blockade, but made no moves to disperse the crowd.
After spending several hours at the parking lot, demonstrators took their protest on the road again. They marched westbound on the lower West Seattle bridge toward the location where they first assembled along the waterfront.
Demonstrators have greeted the Polar Pioneer every day since it arrived from Port Angeles on Thursday. So-called "kayaktivists" gathered in numbers over the weekend with their protest against off -shore drilling.
The protesters say they are concerned about the risk of oil spill in the Arctic, as well as the effects of burning fossil fuels on climate change. Officials in Alaska have touted the money the drilling could bring the state, as well as economic benefits to the Pacific Northwest, which uses much of Alaska's oil.
On Friday, the Seattle Department of Planning and Development formally determined that Terminal 5 is not permitted for oil equipment maintenance. The Port of Seattle could face fines if it does acquire the correct permit.
