Earth Day Brings Protests, Action To Bay Area

Numerous events ranging from trash cleanups to protests are taking place around the Bay Area today in honor of Earth Day. 

One event with some bite is the protest by a number of groups who are looking to challenge government agencies on public health and pollution policies.

Dozens of organizations, from environmental justice to civil rights groups, planned to protest in front of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region IX building at 75 Hawthorne St. in San Francisco at noon.

The groups planned to highlight both national and local issues, including what they call "lax government oversight" that they claim led to the fire at Chevron's Richmond refinery in August 2012.

At 2 p.m., the group planned to march to the U.S. Department of State Office at 1 Market St. to demand that the Obama administration reject the Keystone XL Pipeline plan.

In Redwood City, the Stop San Mateo Jail Coalition protested the development of a new jail at 70 Chemical Way at 11 a.m., saying that the project would be socially and environmental toxic. The organization proceeded to tour the city with their signs, making a stop at 555 County Center at noon.

Other Bay Area Earth Day events are not as political.

SamTrans employees helped pick up trash along El Camino Real this morning. The cleanup occurred at Mission and Evergreen streets in Daly City, Sneath Lane and El Camino Real in San Bruno, and the Redwood City Transit
Center.

Members of the public who participated in the cleanup received a reusable SamTrans shopping bag.

Bay City News contributed to this report. 

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