On April 20, a fire and explosion and the subsequent sinking of the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles southeast of New Orleans resulted in the deaths of 11 of the 126 crew members. Since then, [image-nocss] oil has been leaking from the ocean-floor drilling site and is reportedly threatening the Gulf Coast and wildlife habitats while the company attempts to contain the flow of oil at the source and to reduce the amount spreading on the surface.
(For the effect of the spill on oil prices, click here.)
The so-called "Seize BP National Day of Action" protest was scheduled at BP's Green Curve gas station in Los Angeles, Ian Thompson, a spokesperson for the group called Answer Coalition, told the newspaper.
BP declined to comment to CSP Daily News for the story.
"We're calling for a federal government seizure of BP's assets to pay for all the environmental damage, personal losses and untold consequences of their oil spill," Thompson said. "And in Los Angeles, we're demonstrating at a BP gas station the company claims was designed to teach people how to live greener lives."
According the group's website for the event,Seizebp.org, "The government of the United States must seize BP and freeze its assets, and place those funds in trust to begin providing immediate relief to the working people throughout the Gulf states."
BP is headquartered in London.
Other protests that mainly drew small groups were organized in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas, said the report. (Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage of the oil spill.)
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