Activist campers run afoul of Common law
Who knew caring about climate change would mean a summons to court?
For the past three Sunday nights, a group of more than 100 college students from across Massachusetts have camped on Boston Common to call on Governor Deval Patrick to introduce a bill to power the state with 100 percent clean electricity by 2020. Climate talks are scheduled next month in Copenhagen, and the students are part of a grass-roots chorus to get the United States to commit to meaningful greenhouse gas reductions.
But yesterday at 1 a.m., about 150 activists - including Jim Hansen, the outspoken NASA climate-change scientist - were awakened by Boston police officers to be told they were trespassing on the Boston Common. They were given a few minutes to leave or be given a court summons.
About half the group went to the nearby Church on the Hill while 67 stayed. Each person who stayed will be mailed a summons on trespassing charges.
“It was cordial,’’ said Dan Abrams, a spokesman for the Leadership Campaign, which has organized students on 24 campuses. The students sleep outside on their college or university property during the week and come to the Common on Sunday nights to be ready to lobby in the Statehouse Monday mornings.
“Regardless of the cause, we have to enforce the laws of the city,’’ said Boston police spokesman Joe Zanoli. He said Boston Common is closed after 11 p.m. “We can’t allow one group to voice their opinion and overlook laws.’’
After police took down campers’ information, the entire group, including those who temporarily went to the church, continued camping. They attended a hearing yesterday morning sponsored by Senator Marc Pacheco on their proposed legislation.
They plan to be back next Sunday.
