Kayaktivists are now paddling across Elliott Bay to protest the arrival of Shell Oil's Arctic drilling rig, and The Stranger is with them.
Follow @sydbrownstone and @heidigroover as they watch it unfold from the water.
Kayaktivists ready to get within 500 yards of the rig. pic.twitter.com/qz3Ix5BLa7
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 14, 2015
.@sydbrownstone working for you. pic.twitter.com/88GpXqFnv2
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 14, 2015
"Haiiiiiii, Seattle." -Polar Pioneer, the biggest goddamn thing I've ever seen. pic.twitter.com/gFPAMeMfY9
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 14, 2015
TV news is interviewing these guys from that white boat. pic.twitter.com/LHrxq2cfE1
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 14, 2015
It looks like there's a canoe closer than 500 meters away. pic.twitter.com/XAR82IMRq0
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 14, 2015
This is as close as we're allowed to get but Coast Guard is being chill to the lone canoe that's in the safety zone. pic.twitter.com/GAp7k5x5B0
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 14, 2015
Duwamish canoe got the closest. pic.twitter.com/8DJ5xId4Ef
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 14, 2015
Coast Guard action heroes: chill AF. pic.twitter.com/4EBrVuN1xb
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 14, 2015
Everyone's staying outside 500 yard limit. Oh hi, SPD. pic.twitter.com/MM87KpjAM8
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 14, 2015
30-40 people in kayaks approach the 500-yard safety zone. pic.twitter.com/VWO8QvfDY8
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 14, 2015
"It's David and Goliath," one activist tells @sydbrownstone and me, "but that's OK. David wins."
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 14, 2015
Line of kayaks and canoe pull up a banner in front of the rig at the 500 yard limit. pic.twitter.com/s9BgynfQ7N
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 14, 2015
Can you spot @CMMikeOBrien? (He's under the O in CHAOS.) pic.twitter.com/kHUdzEkvsE
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 14, 2015
Roughly 40 people here. pic.twitter.com/fNkf6TRizX
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 14, 2015
"Shell no" chant with Duwamish drums. pic.twitter.com/Z65DnMTLXV
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 14, 2015
It's pretty amazing 40 people were able to get out in kayaks on such short notice since there was uncertainty about when rig would arrive.
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 14, 2015
The rig is entering Terminal 5, about to dock. pic.twitter.com/w3miP38oXM
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 14, 20152/4 "This is like a machine of death and destruction, a symbol of everything that we need to change." pic.twitter.com/xqurpDR12w
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 14, 2015SPOTTED: A sea lion confronts Shell's Arctic oil rig. > http://t.co/aYXYu0ewxX #SaveTheArctic pic.twitter.com/kuYlEYKB0Q
— Greenpeace (@Greenpeace) May 14, 2015We are headed back to shore now with part of the group. See you Saturday, Polar Pioneer!
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 14, 2015.@CMMikeOBrien is out of the water, too. "I'm gonna get a burger and a beer," he says.
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 15, 2015
