VIDEO: Greenpeace protest shuts down part of Houston Ship Channel

Greenpeace posted this picture of activists dangling from bridge

The Coast Guard closed a portion of the Houston Ship Channel, from Light 102A to Light 104, today, due to a stunt by Greenpeace USA activists near Baytown, Texas.

At 6:30 a.m., Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders received notification that approximately 11 individuals were suspended from the Fred Hartman Bridge.

As of 7:30 a.m., the vessel queue was one vessel inbound and two vessels outbound.

Greenpeace USA said that twenty-two Greenpeace USA activists had “shut down the largest fossil fuel thoroughfare in the United States ahead of the third Democratic primary debate in nearby Houston.”

It said the group intended to remain secured in place for 24 hours, preventing the transport of all oil and gas through the channel. It called their action “a bold call to leaders to imagine a world beyond fossil fuels and embrace a just transition to renewable energy.”

Drivers attempting to cross the bridge probably called their action something else, as vehicle as well as ship traffic was halted.

“We are working with local and federal partners to monitor the Fred Hartman Bridge protest, which is expected to last until Friday morning. Multiple northbound lanes remain closed. Seek alternate routes,” the Harris County Sheriff’s Office tweeted mid-morning.