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Line Five protest includes Santa and a horse

Protestors gathered at the state Capitol Thursday.

The protest included a seasonal cast of characters.

Santa: HO-HO-HO

Santa Clause and Clifford the horse were among those rallying against Enbridge’s Line 5. The pipeline carries crude oil and natural gas liquid under the Straits of Mackinac.

Environmentalists have been calling for the line to be shut down for years. They’re concerned a leak in the ageing line would be catastrophic for the Great Lakes.

And Santa says, refusing to shut down the line puts the governor and attorney general on the naughty list.

“They’ve been a little naughty. I’m gonna give them a chance, a chance to redeem themselves at least in time for this Christmas. If not, next Christmas.”

Andrea Bitely is with the Attorney General’s office. She says the AG is in favor of shutting down Line Five, but it’s not something that can happen overnight.

“You would hate to have someone in the Upper Peninsula not be able to heat their home in the winter because of closing Line Five. We have to take into account everyone who is dependent on Line Five as well as the environmental risk.”

Protestors gathered outside the state Capitol. Including Clifford, a horse from Drummond Island.

Nancy Bailey is Clifford’s “human.” She says Clifford is a therapy animal. But he came to the protest because of environmental concerns surrounding Line 5 and a potential leak.

“We spend all summer playin’ in Lake Huron and it’s always clean and we don’t want that to end.”

Clifford did manage to get into the governor’s building, but was escorted out.

Last week a pipeline advisory board called for the line to be temporarily shut down and alternatives explored further.