By Alli Koch
Staff Writer
Until the results of the upcoming Nov. 4 vote on oil drilling in Hermosa Beach are “spilled,” Hermosa Beach residents unite hand in hand in their protest against the potential oil rigs.
The organization Keep Hermosa Hermosa, or KHH, held the Hands Across the Sand protest on May 17. Over 700 individuals stood holding hands in a line from ninth street in Hermosa Beach to north of the Hermosa pier to show unity in standing up against oil drilling.
“I think the turnout shows our community is committed to protecting our greatest natural resources, our beach and our ocean,” KHH protest organizer Kevin Sousa said.
Sousa believes the protest was a success that will help their cause later this year when the public votes on the topic. KHH leaders believe the information on the oil drilling will speak for itself during the vote.
“I think this event helped create awareness for the upcoming poll when the residents of Hermosa will decide whether to maintain the current ban on drilling or allow an oil and gas processing facility,” Sousa said.
The protest began with a beach clean up, then protesters linked hands and formed a line streching from ninth street in Hermosa Beach to north of the Hermosa Beach pier.
“Hands Across the Sand was a great way to spread the word for the Keep Hermosa Hermosa organization,” Hermosa Beach resident Lauren Irwin said. “It was a demonstration of how the Hermosa residents have come together to voice their opinions, and it got a lot more people on board.”
The Hands Across the Sand movement began in April of 2010 after the gulf oil spill. One day a year, people from all over the world join hands in different locations to raise awareness against oil drilling and other forms of extreme energy that are potentially harmful to the environment. According to Sousa, Hermosa Beach residents generated one of the largest turnouts of the worldwide event to date.
“I hope the oil drilling project gets turned down because it could cause problems with the environment,” Hermosa Beach resident Robin Wilson said.
KHH and local companies used newsletters and social media outlets to advertise for Hands Across the Sand.
“Heal the Bay and Surfrider did an excellent job at rallying their members to support Hands Across the Sand,” Sousa said.
The vote determining whether the oil drilling project by E&B Natural Resources will be approved or denied will take place on Nov. 4. According to Sousa, KHH feels confident going into the election but is still conscious of its opponent.
“We believe that if the vote were to be held today, we would win.” Sousa said. “The oil company, however, has unlimited funding and a history of producing false and misleading advertisements. This is why we are working diligently for our cause.”
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