Protesters are continuing to ramp up their resistance to the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry tar sands oil from Canada to Texas, as they await word from President Obama on whether he will approve it. In Houston, Texas, Wednesday, a protester climbed a 50-foot flagpole and hung a banner denouncing a firm that processes tar sands oil. LyondellBasell is reportedly planning an upgrade that will allow it to process nearly a quarter of the pipeline’s capacity. The group Tar Sands Blockade accused the company of “environmental racism” for polluting a largely Latino area. On Wednesday, the street in front of the firm’s office was blocked off as firefighters used a ladder to remove protester Perry Graham from the flagpole. Before his ascension, Graham said his act was connected to a wave of actions against the Keystone XL last week.

Perry Graham: “By taking action today, I hope to call people to action. We just had a week of action where we saw over 55 actions across the country and over 60 people get arrested, sending a clear message to anyone who hopes to invest in tar sands that resistance will only continue if they do try to profit off other people’s suffering.”