Deflated tires one day protest in the streets the next.
Climate justice advocates hit the city again with Extinction Rebellion Boston members saying they have mixed feelings about an international eco-warrior group claiming it deflated the tires of 43 SUVs on Beacon Hill.
Just under 48 hours after the group, the Tyre Extinguishers, ventured into the wealthy city neighborhood, Extinction Rebellion held its own rally Friday afternoon, calling on Gov. Maura Healey to suspend fossil fuel infrastructure projects across the state.
The group marched from City Hall to the State House, calling for help from city and state officials to put residents ahead of profit from large corporations that encourage the use of fossil fuels.
Extinction Rebellion Boston, in the past, has blocked city roads, trespassed into the lobby of Healey’s office at the State House and forced the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum to close for a day. During some events, group members have been arrested.
But deflating car tires is a measure that the group likely won’t pursue, Allen McGonagill, of Somerville, told the Herald.
“That’s really not the kind of thing the Extinction Rebellion does,” said McGonagill, who admitted he’s been arrested five times in “climate actions” in the past. “We’re trying to get the public on our side. I don’t think the goal there is to get people to agree with you. We’re looking to get more people involved.”
The Tyre Extinguishers deflated the tires of 43 luxury SUVs late Wednesday night to address what they say is a climate emergency felt around the world, spurred by inaction from governments and politicians – a stance shared by the Extinction Rebellion.
Boston Police made no arrests during the Beacon Hill incident, which occurred near Louisburg Square, where John Kerry, President Joe Biden’s climate envoy, owns a home.
The Tyre Extinguishers did not return a Herald inquiry on whether the group knew Kerry has a home in the neighborhood it targeted, and if so, how that knowledge influenced its decision.
Kerry’s communications team also did not respond to a Herald request for comment.
While the Extinction Rebellion rally on Friday largely focused on what climate advocates can do locally and statewide, McGonagill said he’s seeing the feds mirror what is being done in Boston and in Massachusetts.
McGonagill highlighted the Willow Project, a major oil endeavor on Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope that could produce up to 180,000 barrels of oil a day. Biden approved the project last month.
“They’re saying climate change is a real thing, it’s important,” McGonagill said, “but then Biden just approved drilling in the Alaskan wilderness.”
John Walkey is the director of climate justice for environmental justice nonprofit Green Roots, which works in East Boston and Chelsea. He attended Friday’s rally and those in the past, important tools to raise awareness among lobbyists who can then pressure politicians.
As to what he thinks about deflating tires, he said he doesn’t put his energy in such acts but he came short on condemning the Beacon Hill incident.
“Having a flat tire is a bad thing,” Walkey said. “Having the entire (expletive) South Boston waterfront underwater, that’s going to be a hugely bad thing that’s going to affect people. We all know when (expletive) hits the fan, certain people get bailed out and certain people pay for it.”