Along with our brothers and sisters across the country in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington D.C., Sunday, February 17 was a day here in San Diego devoted to PROTESTING the Keystone Pipeline.

Hundreds of San Diegans turned out on a breezy but sunny afternoon near Mission Bay to join a nationwide protest to reject the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project. Several environmental groups pulled together to organize the estimated 500 activists who rallied by listening to a series of speakers including San Diego Mayor Bob Filner and Sierra Club director Lori Saldana.

Groups such as SanDiego350.org, Citizens Climate Lobby, Sierra Club San Diego, Environmental Health Coalition, Women Occupy San Diego, and many other organizations worked hard to make their voices heard.

After the rally, it was onto the march which crossed over East Mission Bay Drive, with several San Diego Police officers carefully watching the action and providing traffic control.

30 people were needed to carry the large anti-Keystone Pipeline sign which was strategically placed on the Interstate 5 overpass bridge where passing motorists could enjoy the message.

The group was very well-behaved and after about 20 minutes doing the protest thing, it was time to head back to the rally area. The only bummer: two redneck-looking men in a large, over-sized silver truck kept circling the protesters on the bridge and flipping us off.

It is important to stop the Keystone Pipeline, which will transmit crude oil and bitumen from the oil sands region in Athabasca, Canada to the U.S., ending at the Gulf Coast. Extraction of oil from tar sands produces more greenhouse gases than other means of oil extraction. There are also concerns that leaks could polllute water supplies and wildlife habitat.

Native Americans and indigenous First Nations people in Canada have joined with environmentalists in opposing the project due to potential negative impacts on native fishing, waterways, and reservation lands.

The Day of Action on the Keystone Pipeline demanded local as well as national action on climate change. San Diegans today showed the strength and commitment of our environmental community. JUST SAY NO TO THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE!