On Saturday March 15th, activists and community members protested the war in Iraq, environmental racism and global warming by blockading the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, CA.

Protesters marched to one of the main gates of the refinery and up to 50 people locked themselves down. Bands played, and there was street theater and food. The police had the entrance blocked with barricades. After several hours, the lockdown was ended. Protesters then quickly moved up to the police lines, dismantled the police barricades and pushed further into the refinery catching the police tactical units off guard. Police were startled but formed a line and people sat down. Other people took down the rest of the barricade and put it out in the intersection to keep the street closed. Eventually the police arrested 25 people.

Among the reasons for the protest were Chevron’s plans to expand the toxic refinery and its war profiteering in Iraq.