XRDC Dance Party Blocks Streets to Demand Mayor Bowser Step Up for a Livable, Fossil-Free Future

Rebels danced in intersections to alert residents about the dangers of methane gas as Mayor Bowser fails to protect DC residents

Washington, DC – Yesterday afternoon, Extinction Rebellion DC (XRDC) took over DC streets to alert the public to the hazards of methane gas and demand Mayor Bowser take immediate action to protect DC residents from these dangers. Methane gas, provided by corporate fossil fuel utility Washington Gas, poses an immediate danger to DC residents. There are thousands of gas leaks in DC, over 70% of which are at hazardous levels, meaning they could explode at any moment.

The mayor has a moral duty to protect DC residents from the dangers of methane gas. In the light of her failure to act, rebels blockaded intersections with a dance party, harnessing community power to direct DC toward the livable, fossil-free future residents deserve.

The dance party blockade included banners and signs reading, “Bowser: End Methane Gas Now,” “Gas Leaks, Methane Kills,” and “Stop Project Pipes.” Rebels passed out flyers to pedestrians, informing them of the hazards of nearby leaks and inviting them to join and take action to kick methane out of DC. Throughout their route from Dupont Circle to Logan Circle, rebels blocked three intersections, and the route passed at least 18 known methane gas leaks. At one intersection, rebels played “Toxic” by Brittney Spears, naming Mayor Bowser’s toxic relationship with methane gas.

“It has been two months since we first delivered our demands to Mayor Bowser, and she has been completely silent. But her silence speaks volumes. She would rather fatten the pocketbooks of Washington Gas, the police force, and wealthy downtown businesses than address the real, everyday problems facing her constituents,” said Claire Hacker (she/her), press spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion DC. “Methane gas puts DC residents in constant danger. From explosive leaks to serious health harms and financial strain, Washington Gas’ methane product is harming residents in a myriad of ways. The only way to ensure DC residents are truly safe is to stop Washington Gas from pumping methane through our streets and into our homes.”

Washington Gas wants to spend $12 billion of gas customer money to replace all the methane gas pipes in DC, a program they dub Project Pipes. Despite a decade of work, Project Pipes has failed to adequately address gas leaks in the city. In fact, Washington Gas is favoring the replacement of potentially leaking pipes instead of repairing and replacing actually leaking pipes, leaving hundreds of residents in immediate danger of explosions. And even if they repaired all the leaky pipes, more leaks will occur. The only real solution is to transition off methane gas.

This action escalates pressure on Mayor Bowser to fulfill XRDC’s demands to speak out on the dangers of methane gas and the incompatibility of Washington Gas’ Project Pipes with DC’s climate goals. The mayor has a massive opportunity to step up and be the true climate leader DC needs. As long as the mayor fails to act, XRDC will be in the streets to alert residents and harness community power to direct the District toward a livable, fossil-free future.

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