Protesters Rappel Off Richmond Bridge

Five environmental advocates descended from the lower part of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge this morning to unfurl a 50-foot anti-Chevron banner as part of an environmental campaign, an environmental group said.

Marin California Highway Patrol officers detained and arrested the five climbers after they rappelled down the bridge from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Marin CHP officer Chris Rardin said.

The climbers were arrested on suspicion of trespassing and conspiracy to commit a crime, and were taken to a Contra Costa County jail, Rardin said.

Two other men, the protesters' van driver and videographer, were also detained and arrested by CHP on conspiracy charges, said Ginger Cassady, director for the Rainforest Action Network's Change Chevron campaign.

The volunteer climbers, all California or Bay Area residents, unfurled a sign that read, "Chevron Guilty: Clean Up Amazon," Rainforest Action Network spokeswoman Nell Greenberg said.

The protest, during which three climbers hung from the bottom of the sign and two anchored the sign at the top, was held two days before a scheduled Chevron shareholder meeting at San Ramon Chevron corporate headquarters, Greenberg said.

"This was to send a loud and clear message to the Chevron CEO and other executives in San Ramon," Greenberg said.

Chevron media advisor Sean Comey said the company did not condone the advocates' actions this morning.

"RAN's behavior demonstrates that it is willing to put its own people at risk to carry out reckless publicity stunts," the company said in a statement. "While we acknowledge the right of any individual or organization to express their views by peaceful protest, we deplore the irresponsibility of the kind of actions that break the law and put people in danger."

The climbers — Matt Leonard, 32, Thomas Cavanagh, 39, Amanda Fiore, 32, Rae Louise Breaux, 23, and Annie Sartor, 30 — were not hurt during the protest, Greenberg said.

— Bay City News