Fell St. ARCO/ BP Protester Assaulted by Station Owner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joshua Hart: (831) 440-9814 joshuanoahhart [at] gmail.com June 21st, 2010

FELL ST. ARCO/ BP PROTESTER ASSAULTED BY STATION OWNER
Peaceful protest against catastrophe in the Gulf interrupted by vigilante violence

A man protesting peacefully against the oil spill in the Gulf and the obstructed bike lane on Fell St. in San Francisco was assaulted Friday evening by the owner of the Arco station at Fell and Divisadero Streets in San Francisco. The Arco station, which sells BP fuel, has been a thorn in the side of San Francisco cyclists for many years, as drivers block the bike lane while lining up for cheap gas.

You Tube footage of the assault emerged today- as the victim of the attack- Jym Dyer- filed assault charges against one Larry George Armstrong- owner of the Arco (BP) gasoline station. Mr. Armstrong took matters into his own hands Friday evening, assaulting protesters who were peacefully assembled last Friday evening to condemn the Gulf oil spill and the blocked bike lane on Fell St., the only level east west bicycle route in San Francisco.

Video just released here: http://bit.ly/c9lW7D

Mr. Armstrong is visible in the video, violently jerking Mr. Dyer’s hand as he pulls the protesters out of the way of a car attempting to purchase BP fuel. The victim, Mr. Dyer has filed assault charges against the owner of the gas station and is awaiting medical assessment of his hand injury. Mr. Armstrong has not only shown himself to be a violent man, he has shown a disregard of his neighbors, has obstructed attempts to improve safety on Fell St., and is continuing to send hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits directly to BP, whose oil leak 5000 feet under the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, continues to devastate the region.

The incident shatters the stereotype of the ‘innocent independent business owner’ and protesters have renewed their calls for the Fell St. station entrances to be shut down. They will return this Friday and attempt to peacefully shut down the dangerous Fell St. station driveways which have resulted in injuries to dozens of cyclists at this location.

Protest organizers suggest that a complete network of safe bicycle lanes can offer people alternatives to driving alone. Here in San Francisco the demand for a comprehensive urban bicycle system is widespread. According to a 2007 Binder poll, 75% of voters in San Francisco support new bike lanes and infrastructure.

Robin Levitt, longtime San Francisco resident, Detroit native and protester says “BP/ARCO cares as much for the suffering of the birds in the Gulf as they do about the person on a bike who risks injury or death having to swerve around cars blocking the bike lane just to get cheap gas at their station. Every Friday we will stand with the pelicans, turtles, and dolphins suffering from the spill, knowing that if we fail to end our oil addiction, we will not be far behind them.”

Where and when: The protesters will return every Friday at 5:30pm at the Arco station on the corner of Fell and Divisadero streets in San Francisco until the “holes are plugged:”until the city of San Francisco closes the dangerous entrances at this Arco station and until BP plugs their oil spewing holes in the Gulf seafloor.

Photo opportunities: protesters holding signs, constructing a pocket park in the entrance to the Arco station, speeches, music and possible arrests.