Protest Group: 6 More Arrested At Weymouth Compressor Station

WEYMOUTH, MA — For the second time in a week, the group Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station said protestors were arrested for blocking entrance to the station. Last Thursday, four people were arrested during the hours-long protest. The group said two more were taken into custody Wednesday morning after they laid down in front of the gates of the compressor station, followed by two additional arrests about an hour later.

The group said two additional people were arrested later in the morning with all six set to appear in court Wednesday afternoon.

"Two people have been arrested for blocking construction," the group posted on social media Wednesday morning after the first arrests. "They laid down on ground in front of the gates. They put their bodies on the line to protect the community from the harm that Enbridge wants to cause. We thank them for their bravery."

The group said for the second time in week about 30 protestors gathered at the Fore River Bridge early Wednesday and that Weymouth police arrested the first two people for blocking the entrance about 7 a.m. Last week, four were arrested in a similar protest that the group called an act of civil disobedience.

Approx. 30 allies of @FRRACS_MA gathered at the Fore River Bridge to prevent Enbridge from continuing yuh construction. Around 7am, 2 citizens were arrested by Weymouth PD. They were blocking the gate for less than 5 min. #NoWeymouthCompressor #KeepItInTheGround #mapoli pic.twitter.com/mmoSg2JIcb
— Nicole (@nicolewhaat) December 11, 2019

The compressor station along the Fore River received approval from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management last month in the final of four regulatory hurdles Algonquin, the company behind the project, needed approved.

Residents and elected officials in Braintree, Hingham, Quincy and Weymouth have expressed concern and have opposed the project, but Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs spokesperson Katie Gronendyke said upon the final approval that the project met all state and federal safety regulations, and that the project had passed air-quality testing impact assessments.

FRRACS representatives said that they plan to continue fighting the project and have solicited support in an online petition.