Greenpeace Protest: 2 Lanes Closed On Fred Hartman Bridge

HOUSTON, TX — Demonstrators with Greenpeace suspended themselves under the Fred Hartman Bridge in Harris County on Thursday, ahead of the Democratic presidential debate scheduled to take place in Houston.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office and the county's office of emergency management said they were aware of the situation and were monitoring the protest.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez two northbound lanes on the bridge are shut down. Traffic was moving slowly on the bridge and Gonzalez advised commuters to seek other routes.

Gonzalez also said no water vessels were being allowed in the area.

The bridge is directly over the Houston Ship Channel. According to the Port of Houston, the Houston region is home to the largest petrochemical manufacturing complex in the Americas. The ship channel is used for the import and export of petroleum and petroleum products.

"We're in the heart of the fossil fuel industry (the largest oil export channel in the US) to confront Trump & the oil industry," Greenpeace USA wrote in a tweet.

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