Protesters form human blockade along rail tracks

VANCOUVER, Wash. – More than a 100 protesters have formed a human blockade on tracks in Vancouver as a response to a recent fiery oil train derailment along the Columbia River.

Organizers with the Fossil Fuel Resistance Network, a group that formed after the June 3 Mosier train derailment, say they expect to be arrested.

According to a news release, Saturday’s protest is being held to highlight risks associated with fossil fuel extraction, transportation and consumption. Some participants are holding signs that read “Ban the bomb train.”

Nobody was injured in the derailment and less than 10 gallons of oil entered the river. The derailment forced evacuations in Mosier, about 70 miles east of Portland. Since then, state transportation officials in Oregon have asked for a halt of the massive oil trains because of concerns over the strain they put on the rail tracks.

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