Note: While this protest took place in March we are highlighting it because we recently learned that the protesters involved are facing felony charges and one, Charles Long, has already pled guilty to a felony in exchange for no jail time. We are contacting Greenpeace for updates. KZ
Nine Greenpeace protesters were arrested after a pair of multi-story banners was hung from the two Procter & Gamble towers in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday.
“It was pretty bizarre when that run came out that we had people hanging from the building. The first thought was its window washers. But then we heard about the banners that were coming down and everything else and certainly it was much more than that,” Capt. Paul Broxterman said.
He said the activists had broken window locks to get out, then braced the windows shut so police couldn’t get to them.
“So I tapped on the glass and I said, ‘Can you call me on my cellphone,’ made cellphone contact with him, asked him how long he intended to be out there and he said they’d be wrapping up very shortly,” Broxterman said.
Cincinnati police said about an hour later, the three men and six women were taken into custody from the premises. They are all charged with burglary and vandalism, trespassing and inducing panic:
Jesse Coleman
Michael Herbert
Marcella Largess
Charles Long
Sean O’Brien
Denise Rodriguez
Tyler Sanville
Nima Shahidi
Tyler Wilkerson
They range in age from 20-30 and are from all over the country, including New York, California, Chicago, and Washington D.C.
Bond for each was set at $50,000 on Wednesday. The judge referred to the group as “reckless.”
The activists, one dressed in a tiger costume, unfurled two 60 foot banners from the building with the message “Head & Shoulders, Stop Putting Tiger Survival on the Line” and “Head & Shoulders, Wipes out Dandruff & Rainforests.”
Bystanders watched in disbelief at the dramatic display.
“It’s, that’s just crazy. Wow, I’m not even sure what to say about it,” bystander Chris Hardy said.
“Stupid, pointless they might get hurt for no reason,” Anne Reed said.
“The rainforest is being destroyed and cut down every day for a product that millions of people use everyday,” Amy Moas with Greenpeace said. “So it’s really an urgent situation with less than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the world.”
“P&G is buying palm oil linked to rainforest destruction, to make everyday products like Head & Shoulders and Oil of Olay,” said Joao Talocchi, Greenpeace Palm Oil Campaigner, in the release. “Rainforest destruction is endangering species like the Sumatran tiger and orangutan. We should be able to wash away dandruff without wiping out tigers.”
It was not immediately clear how the protesters got onto the building. Police said they pulled off the stunt by walking into the building, breaching security police described as, “Fort Knox.”
“That’s something that P&G is evaluating right now as we speak. They’re going over their surveillance video and they’re talking with their security people,” Broxterman said.
Greenpeace spokeswoman Amy Moas told WLWT News 5’s Tammy Mutasa that the protesters came in from ground level.
“When we see people hanging off buildings — there’s all kinds of reasons, but our first priority to get them down and make sure they don’t die,” Sgt. Julie Johnson with the Cincinnati Police Department said.
The banners were being pulled up by 2:30 p.m. Greenpeace USA tweeted around 2:45 p.m. that the protesters were coming down.
Proctor & Gamble released the following statement Tuesday.
“Today’s protest at our General Offices ended peacefully and our primary concerns were the safety of our employees, the security of our facilities and the safety of the protesters. We agree that deforestation is a significant issue which is why we are committed to the sustainable sourcing of palm oil. We have already pledged to reach 100% sustainable sourcing of palm oil by 2015 and we will continue to drive to that goal with urgency. Today’s protest is now in the hands of local law enforcement.”
During the incident, police closed the plaza area around the towers. Fire department ladder trucks also responded to the scene.
“It’s a protest I’ve never seen before,” added Hardy.
Greenpeace representatives told WLWT they did contract a helicopter to get some pictures of the protest, but now police are looking into whether that helicopter may have dropped off some of the rappelling gear and if any violations occurred.