A protest at the White House earlier this year. Ben Powless

A protest at the White House earlier this year. Ben Powless
Activists are allowed on the sidewalk in front of the White House as long as they keep moving, but if they sit, they're vulnerable to arrest. Josh Lopez

Activists are allowed on the sidewalk in front of the White House as long as they keep moving, but if they sit, they're vulnerable to arrest. Josh Lopez
A protester has written legal support numbers on his arm before the sit-in. Tar Sands Action

A protester has written legal support numbers on his arm before the sit-in. Tar Sands Action
Corina Torgeson, the first protester to be arrested, listens to warnings from the police. Shadia Fayne Wood

Corina Torgeson, the first protester to be arrested, listens to warnings from the police. Shadia Fayne Wood
NRDC cofounder Gus Speth was arrested on the first day. Shadia Fayne Wood

NRDC cofounder Gus Speth was arrested on the first day. Shadia Fayne Wood
A protester is greeted after being released from jail. Activists arrested on the first day were held for three days. Milan Ilnyckyj

A protester is greeted after being released from jail. Activists arrested on the first day were held for three days. Milan Ilnyckyj
Many activists wore 2008 Obama campaign buttons to remind the president who makes up his base. Shadia Fayne Wood

Many activists wore 2008 Obama campaign buttons to remind the president who makes up his base. Shadia Fayne Wood
A police officer readies plastic handcuffs on the second day of the protest. Milan Ilnyckyj

A police officer readies plastic handcuffs on the second day of the protest. Milan Ilnyckyj
Canadian actress Margot Kidder (of Superman fame) gets arrested. Shadia Fayne Wood

Canadian actress Margot Kidder (of Superman fame) gets arrested. Shadia Fayne Wood
Bryan Parras (center) and Cherri Foytlin (right) traveled up from the Gulf Coast. Josh Lopez

Bryan Parras (center) and Cherri Foytlin (right) traveled up from the Gulf Coast. Josh Lopez
There's still time to join the protest yourself. Josh Lopez

There's still time to join the protest yourself. Josh Lopez

Visually arresting: Live from the tar-sands protests [SLIDESHOW]

By Grist staff on Aug 25, 2011

Hundreds of activists (including Bill McKibben and Daryl Hannah) have been arrested in front of the White House since Aug. 20. They’re calling on Obama to deny a permit for the Keystone XL tar-sands pipeline, which would run from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Here’s the story so far.