Over 370 students, including six Brandeis University undergraduates, were arrested outside the White House Sunday as part of a protest against the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. One of the Brandeis students who was arrested, Martin Hamilton '16, wrote in an email to the Justice that Iona Feldman '16, Kristina Bergquist '15, Ben Hirsh '15, Josh Wertheim '17 and Ph.D. candidate in History Phil Wight were arrested as well.

Hamilton and Abbie Goldberg '16 are both active members of Students for a Just and Stable Future, a New England-based student network of climate justice activists. In an interview with the Justice, Goldberg said that "the unique thing about it was that it was not put on by any organization-it was completely student-organized." Goldberg said that at least a dozen Brandeis students went to Washington, D.C. and participated. The protest on Sunday began in Georgetown and made its way to the White House, where some tied themselves to the White House gate with zip ties. U.S. Park Police, waiting with buses and vans, warned the protesters they would be arrested if they blocked the sidewalk in front of the White House, according to the Associated Press.

Environmentalist groups oppose the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry tar sands through the United States, on the grounds that it would pose dangers to the environment. To move forward with construction, the pipeline requires approval from the State Department, which released a report at the end of January that renewed debate, as the Obama administration has not made a decision about construction.

Goldberg said that the group of Brandeis students stayed in D.C. until late Sunday evening, spending nights in a local church with other students attending the rally. Hamilton, who was processed by police and has returned to Waltham, wrote that "I think the fact that nearly 400 young people feel that the situation is desperate enough that we are willing to be arrested to demonstrate our dissent is a hugely powerful message, and I have high hopes that [it] will be heard by President Obama, and by the rest of the country."

-Andrew Wingens and Rachel Hughes