BREAK FREE COLORADO
Thank you for joining the global movement to Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground!
It’s time for a just transition to 100% renewable energy.
This was one of the largest mass mobilizations for climate action in the history of Colorado. It was part of a global wave of powerful grassroots actions. Here in Colorado, we took action to defend our communities from the dangers of fossil fuel extraction on our lands. We sent a strong message to our state leadership that we must break away from fracking our public lands and communities! Together, we will continue to be a powerful voice for the just transition to a 100% clean energy economy!
BREAK FREE COLORADO!
Thanks to all of you who worked behind the scenes and came out in force to make sure Break Free Colorado was an incredible success!
In case you missed it, here’s a wonderful video recap of the May 12th #KeepItIntheGround event at the BLM auction of public lands for fracking. Over 300 people marched to the auction and dozens risked arrest inside, while about 10 people blockaded the doors to the auction.
May 14th’s Frontline Fracking Defense action in Thornton was amazing! Check out the video here. Despite the unexpectedly cold weather, about 800 people joined the action throughout the day. Bill McKibben delivered an inspirational speech, and there were loads of other great speakers, performers, and activities. Hundreds spelled out “BREAK FREE CO” with sun-painted umbrellas, then marched to the adjacent frack site.
The day ended powerfully, with about 30-40 people risking arrest by storming a frack site that is located within eye-shot of an elementary school and is proposed to be expanded to be one of the largest frack sites in the nation. The group was led by a 13-year-old girl, her father and little sister. Police threatened arrests repeatedly, but seemed unwilling to arrest no matter the lines the groups crossed, leaving many to suspect high level orders to refrain from arrests at both events in order to prevent mass press coverage.
See more photos from the Break Free CO events here on flickr and on our Facebook page. Check out media coverage here.
And friends, this is only the beginning! We won’t sit idly by while the fossil fuel industry invades our neighborhoods, makes our children sick, destroys our climate, and sues our communities when we try to protect ourselves with bans or moratoria.
Join us as we focus our collective energies to get the Yes for Health and Safety Over Fracking ballot initiatives (giving constitutional authority to create local bans/moratoria and 2500’ setbacks) on this November’s statewide ballot! Together we have the power to defend our health and homes, our climate, and our children’s futures. Let’s mobilize to protect all of our communities from fracking and to transition to a 100% clean energy future. Sign up on the website or join this kick-off event in Jefferson County to learn more and get involved.
Let’s keep breaking free! Together “I believe that we will win!”
The Break Free Colorado Team
P.S. Check out some of the other actions around the world here: “Good reasons #breakfree2016 should give you hope for the future.” Photo album Top 50 or Top 130.
BLM: Keep it in the ground!
May 12, 2016 @ 11:30am
Meet/park at the Wadsworth and W. Hampden Park n' Ride (3589 S Wadsworth Blvd, Denver, CO 80235) and march with us over to Holiday Inn Denver Lakewood (7390 West Hampden Ave., Lakewood, CO 80227).
This country is at a crossroads - we can either continue auctioning off public lands for fracking, or we can decide to keep over half of fossil fuels in the US underground forever. On May 12, the Bureau of Land Management intends to auction off our public lands to oil and gas companies, and the movement intends to be there to tell them to keep it in the ground!
Frontline Fracking Defense
May 14, 2016 @sunrise - until...
Event Location: Thornton, CO. Park/meet at the Wagon Road Park n’ Ride (600 W 120th Ave, Westminster, CO 80003) for transportation to the event site.
On May 14th we will mobilize to protect a community working to defend itself from fracking. The fossil fuel industry is invading our neighborhoods and suing our communities when we try to protect ourselves with bans or moratoria. We are rising up to defend our health and homes, our atmosphere held in public trust, and our children's futures.
*Time: Greet the dawn with us at 6am if possible, or join us anytime that day. *Activities: Inspiring Speakers including Bill McKibben! Live Music, Fun Activities for Kids of all ages: face painting, art, group aerial photo, and Solutions Voyage Fair with booths and workshops to learn more about transitioning off fossil fuels and creating the world we all want to see. *Bring: All your supplies to stay for awhile: water, snacks, sunscreen, blankets, shade, musical instruments, signs about Breaking Free from Fossil Fuels, family and friends! *Please no pets, weapons, or substances. Keep it safe!
Your financial support for Break Free CO is much appreciated and will help to cover associated expenses, such as transportation, visuals, trainings, and supplies.
We’re breaking free from an industry that’s driving the climate crisis and throwing our seasons out of whack.
We’re breaking free from an industry that poisons our air and water.
We’re breaking free from an industry that doesn’t respect our right to keep dangerous industrial processes away from homes and schools.
We’re breaking free — and mobilizing to keep massive amounts of fossil fuels underground.