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Nearly 100 environmental activists barricaded an Exxon gas station in Murray on Saturday, a gesture they say was symbolic of their desire to see the company prosecuted and closed for misleading the public and destroying the Earth.
The activists shut down the gas station at the corner of 4500 South and 500 West, for exactly 27 minutes — one minute for every year they believe Exxon's corporate leaders have deliberately fueled climate change denial. Protesters blocked each of the gas station's four entrances with red fabric barriers while singing and chanting "We're fighting for our children; we're fighting for our future; so we shall not be moved."
The gas station's owner, who was notified in advance of the demonstration, allowed the protest to take place but did call Murray police when the activists blocked customers from accessing the business. The police, who had likewise been notified in advance, remained on site for the majority of the protest, but said that they were only there to keep the peace and did not arrest any of the protesters.
The demonstration remained largely peaceful, with passers-by honking, hollering or whistling largely in support of the demonstration. One would-be customer, who later asserted that he had never intended to patronize the station at all, began to shout and swear at the activists when they refused to allow him onto the property. He continued to shout obscenities at the demonstrators, at one point threatening to run over the activists with his vehicle if they would not move, until police asked the man to leave.
Paul Wickelson, one of the demonstration's organizers, said a main goal of Saturday's protest was to draw the attention of Utah residents and leaders and show them there is public support for political action on climate change. He said he and a friend, Ryan Pleune, have been involved in activism together before and several years ago began to talk about organizing a climate demonstration in Utah. This week, with the climate talks in Paris drawing to a close, Wickelson said he felt it was urgent to act to get world leaders' attention.
"I'm a little puzzled by why people, especially in the U.S., don't see this as a crisis," he said.
Pleune said the Utah demonstration was one of hundreds taking place simultaneously around the nation, all coordinated to persuade states' attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Exxon's alleged role in covering up in-house research that indicated humans play a role in climate change. The activists also called for the use of fossil fuels to end by 2050, and for an international treaty that would limit climate change to 1.5 degrees Celsius — the maximum warming scientists estimate can take place before some island nations are lost to rising sea levels.
Pleune had anticipated a crowd of 20 or maybe 60 demonstrators would attend Saturday's event. But the initial count came to 97.
Some made it a family outing. Wickelson was accompanied by his wife, Shea, who brought their two sons, including 6-year-old activist-in-training Otis.
Otis contributed to the demonstration by hand drawing with markers mazes that had fossil fuels at the start and solar power at the finish. The barriers that might block a person from solving the maze, he said, were trucks, tar sands, BP and Exxon.
Otis didn't seem to mind being out in the cold or the brief snow flurries during the protest. "I think it's fun," he said.
The Wickelsons weren't the only family-oriented activists at Saturday's demonstration. Several protesters said it was concern for their children that inspired their participation.
"I'm scared deep down to my bones, because our Earth is in big trouble," said Rebbecca Heal, a Salt Lake City resident. "I'm not an activist, but this got me out. I can't face my children and grandchild without doing something."
Demonstrator Malachi Thomson, a Cottonwood Heights resident, said he has been concerned about climate change since he was 13 years old. Now 21, with a son of his own, he said that concern has only grown.
"I have a year-and-a-half-old son, and I am definitely worried that he will inherit an uninhabitable planet with air he can't breathe and water he can't drink," he said.
Thompson said he believes protests like Saturday's will make a difference, but only if the environmental community can attract more young activists.
"We need to get more people pissed off like I am," he said. "If we keep going and build the momentum, that's when we will make a difference."
Twitter: @EmaPen