Occupy Suncor

On Saturday, March 10th, families from the local communities that are directly affected by the Commerce City Suncor Energy refinery and several organizations including Colorado American Indian Movement, Deep Green Resistance (DGR) Colorado, Front Range Rising Tide, United Community Action Network, 350.org, Occupy Denver and Boulder Food Rescue are coming together for a demonstration against Suncor and the oil seep contaminating the Sand Creek and South Platte River. We are asking everyone concerned about our water, air, land and future to stand with us.

Over the last year, many people and various organizations have united to oppose the Alberta tar sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline, correctly recognizing these industrial projects as ecocidal insanity. Here in Colorado, oil from the tar sands is refined by Suncor Energy. By participating in the process of facilitating genocide against the aboriginal people of Alberta, Suncor Energy has toxified our air, land and water.

By bringing together active members of the Colorado community in coalition, we will align together to force Suncor to stop destroying and poisoning our world, both here in Colorado and in Canada.

We will occupy the ‘hot zone’ on the shore of Sand Creek, where benzene from Suncor’s refinery has been seeping into the water. By occupying the hot zone, we hope to bring public attention to the fact that Suncor is killing Colorado communities, water and wildlife, and to force the industrial polluter to confront the effects of its actions. It is also our hope to form strong alliances with one another and begin to work in cohesion so we can effectively move forward against Suncor’s unethical and irresponsible practices.

We will meet at 2:00pm at 5001 National Western Drive (from downtown Denver, get on I-25 North & take exit 215 onto E. 58th, then turn right onto Franklin. 5001 is ~1 mile on the right, look for signs) on Saturday March 10th. From there, we will carpool to 64th Avenue and York, where we will park and walk to the site of the action at the confluence of Sand Creek and South Platte River. Food will be provided by Boulder Food Rescue, and representatives from various groups will be speaking. Be aware that fumes from the oil and the refinery can sometimes make the area uncomfortable for people with compromised respiratory systems.

It is our hope to see as many of you as possible at this demonstration. Suncor is actively destroying our Mother Earth, and must be stopped. Suncor’s role in the Tar Sands is contributing to a devastated climate and is harming indigenous communities in Canada as well as people living in local communities in Colorado. Please join us on March 10th to stand against the injustices and degradation of our Earth.