Third Protest Ends Quickly

The third Keystone XL Pipeline protest in Westborough ended today with two demonstrators arrested for trespassing.

Veterans For Peace members and others stood outside the building where TransCanada's Northeast Regional Office is, 110 Turnpike Road, Suite 203, for 30 minutes, starting around 12:45 p.m., Police Chief Alan Gordon said in a press release.

One woman read a poem. The demonstrators also chanted.

A Westborough Police officer then instructed the group that the property manager wanted them to leave, and that they would be arrested for trespassing unless they complied.

One woman asked to speak with the property manager.

“They don’t want to speak with you. They want you off their property,” the officer replied.

“You have to pack up your stuff and go back to your vehicles.”

Gordon reiterated that directive.

Police arrested two of the roughly 12-member group, and charged them with trespassing: Kenneth Weiss, 35, of 54 Harrington Road, Framingham and Linda A. Jenkins, 64, of 189 Charles St., Cambridge.

Neither Weiss nor Jenkins attempted to leave the site, Gordon said. The other demonstrators did.

Both Weiss and Jenkins face arraignment in Westborough District Court on Monday, he said.

Pipeline opponents previously protested at TransCanada on Jan. 7 and March 11.

Eight people were arrested on Jan. 7. Their next Westborough District Court date is April 8.

The 25 people arrested during the March 11 protest have been placed on pre-trial probation for three months, and ordered to stay away from TransCanada.