Protesters outside the BP gas station on Route 1 in Edison on May 5 show their feelings about the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf. KATHY CHANG EDISON — Area residents and environment activists staged a boycott of BP gas stations last week in response to the massive oil spill in the Gulf Shore region.
The Edison Wetlands Association helped organize the rally outside the BP station on Route 1 south on May 5, along with Clean Ocean Action, the New York/New Jersey Baykeeper and others. About 25 people in total stood along the side of Route 1, using a bullhorn and shouting: “Do we want offshore drilling?” Others answered “Just say no.” Some called out, “What does BP stand for?” The response was “Boycott polluters.”
Edison Wetlands members said the oil well in the Gulf is pouring out an estimated 210,000 gallons of oil each day, with slicks entering the marshlands of Louisiana’s Gulf Coast.
Many at the protest held signs against offshore drilling, and one member of the Edison Wetlands Association wore a white Tyvek suit, commonly worn during toxic cleanups. Also displayed were fake ducks soaked in oil to add to the gravity of the matter.
Ralph Miller of Milltown said he believed the BP Corp. should be held accountable for the situation.
“They had no backup plan [for] remediation, and that is a crime to have no fall- back,” he said.
Greg Remaud, deputy director of the Keyport-based New York/New Jersey Baykeeper, said that although BP had taken responsibility for what happened, it was too little, too late.
“If they had taken the precautions, we would probably not be out here protesting in the same way as we are,” he said.
Remaud said he became involved with the Baykeeper group in 1989.
“That is when the Exxon spill occurred along the stretch of the Arthur Kill. … That was a much smaller-scale spill, but we are still recovering from it,” he said. “We should continue to boycott Exxon as well.”
An Exxon gas station stands across the street from the BP station on Route 1.
Robert Spiegel, executive director of the Edison Wetlands Association, said the protest was all about raising awareness of the issue.
“We at the local level can start with the consumer,” he said.
BP has indicated that it is working with government agencies “to do everything possible to contain the oil spill and mitigate damage,” including positioning a containment dome and developing additional options to contain the flow.