Posted on 06/03/2010 7:02:30 AM PDT by KeyLargo
Rainbow-PUSH leader leads BP spill protest
June 3, 2010
BY CHRISTIN NANCE LAZERUS, (219) 648-3086
As crews struggle to contain the largest oil spill in American history in the Gulf of Mexico, critics of BP are starting to turn up the heat.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson led a group of protesters on a march outside of BP's Whiting refinery on Wednesday afternoon to focus attention on what he says is the lax environmental enforcement that allowed the Gulf oil spill to occur -- and problems closer to home.
"We need the (Environmental Protection Agency) standards enforced," Jackson said. "At this point, businesses look at EPA fines as the cost of doing business.
"This reckless behavior is a threat to us all," the Rainbow-PUSH leader said.
About 20 pickets walked along the busy stretch of Indianapolis Boulevard, carrying signs emblazoned with "Spill Baby Spill?," "We Want Clean Energy," and "Don't Pay the Bill for the Spill."
Jackson and Sierra Club Illinois director Jack Darin criticized BP for its $3 billion expansion of the Whiting refinery, which could see an increase the pollution due to processing oil from tar sands.
"There is a tragedy occurring right here in our midst," Jackson said. "We all deserve the right to breathe free."
Many of the protesters belong to Greater First Church in East Chicago.
Bishop T. Lane Grant II criticized the air and wastewater permits approved for BP by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
"There's no plan to ensure that BP wouldn't continue violations," Grant said.
East Chicago resident Tanya Moss said concern about the Gulf oil spill prompted her to act.
"We want to to make sure they take every safety precaution," Moss said. "Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for their 'oops,' since they wouldn't pay for my 'oops'."
Darin said he hopes this critical time prompts political leaders to action on planning a cleaner energy future.
"We're well positioned to act," Darin said.
"We have a president who is pointing in that direction, and the House passed an energy bill. It's one of big things on senate's agenda this summer.
"We want a future free of oil spills."
Are Carly and Sarah joining him?
If they were serious, they’d go out to the worksite and walk a picket-line..
(glub)
jesse jackson is on the case. that ought to plug up the leak.
It’s an insult to clergy everywhere to call this guy a reverend.
Media Whore!
American history presumably goes back as far as 1979, when oil from the gigantic Ixtoc spill polluted the American gulf coast.
* The Ixtoc spill was six times larger than the Deep Horizon spill.
* It went on for nine months.
* PEMEX refused to pay the US compensation for the damage caused, citing sovereign immunity.
Notice this, liberal lurkers: JJ is NOT protesting the lame, pathetic, ignorant, insensitive NON-RESPONSE of the federal government. Because if JJ were to do THAT, he would draw attention to the fact that the federal government’s chief executive is lame, pathetic, ignorant, insensitive and non-responsive.
OTOH, JJ also excoriated George W. Bush when the DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR and DEMOCRAT MAYOR of Louisiana/New Orleans were primarily responsible for the failures after Katrina.
In a word, JJ is a hypocrite.
If a buck were to be made he would.
“OK, now where are the cameras and what is THIS protest about again?”
What is the point of these protests, hearings, potential law suits? Why are they trying to distract BP from doing their job?
Jesse Jackson: Infernal Gas Bag.
Doesn’t this man ever lose his voice?
“..The Rev. Jesse Jackson led a group of protesters on a march outside of BP’s WHITING refinery on Wednesday afternoon to focus attention on what he says is the lax environmental enforcement that allowed the Gulf oil spill to occur — and problems closer to home.”
Hmmm.
Wonder if he misread that as WHITEY refinery.
Should the Rev be protesting against a product that is black? How racist!
Thanks for “shining that bright light”, Jesse. No one heard about this till you struck up your band of race pimps and anti-business whores. BP is sure to really get down to fixing the problem now.
Here is a clue: 
"Barack, I'm want my cut of the BP money as soon as the big payday comes from my shakedown scheme" 
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