<\/a>A banner protesting resource extraction in the Arctic was hung from a building in downtown Juneau on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. On social media, activists posted photos of the banner in cities around the state and nation, and even as far away as London. (Peter Segall \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
The text of the banner reads “Sacred Lands Not For Sale — Stop Arctic Oil Extraction” and is a reference to the Trump administration’s decision in August to begin leasing tracts of land in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for resource development.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
[Lawsuits challenge drilling plan in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge<\/a>]<\/ins><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t “Extraction on the coastal plain has been opposed for decades by both Gwich’in and Iñupiaq advocates. Known as ‘The Sacred Place Where Life Begins’ to the Gwich’in Nation, the coastal plain is vital to the health of the Porcupine caribou herd. This land has also sustained the Iñuit since time immemorial and continues to sustain the Kaktovik People today,” the groups said in a joint news release.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t The release said banners were scheduled to be dropped in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, Washington, D.C. and Boston. Photos of the banners hanging in cities around the state and nation are being posted on social media. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t BREAKING! Today we are at @britishmuseum<\/a> taking action to protect the #Arctic<\/a> from oil drilling in sacred lands, in solidarity with @NativeMovement<\/a> & @DefendtheSacredAK #ProtectTheArctic<\/a> #StandWithTheGwichin<\/a> #InupiatGwichinSolidarity<\/a> #DefendTheSacredAK<\/a> #NativeMovement<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/YTTjzeMMVg<\/a><\/p>— BP or not BP? (@drop_BP) October 21, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>