Hundreds of people across the whole island joined the “National March: Puerto Rico stands firm against the Pipeline” that took place on Sunday 19 February, 2012, in the city of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. The demonstrators marched from the Capitol (the Legislature) to the Governors Mansion (La Fortaleza) in rejection of the so-called “Green Way,” a project proposed by the administration of the governor Luis Fortuño, which is looking to build a 92-mile-long tube to carry natural gas from the south coast of the island to San Juan, on the north coast, through the central mountain range.

The march was organized by the community organization Casa Pueblo [en] based in the town of Adjuntas. Casa Pueblo has led the attempts to put a stop to the so-called “Green Way”. Environmentalists have argued that, if the project goes ahead, it would have a negative impact on the aquifers and rain forests on its path, causing irreparable damage to the island's ecosystem. Grassroots organizations and people against the construction of the pipeline have called it the “Pipeline of Death.”

Photojournalist Ricardo Alcaraz shares some of the images he shot of the demonstration. All photographs have been published with his permission.

People from all sectors of civil society joined the demonstration.

The protesters marched from the Capitol to the Fortaleza. In the background you can see the west side of Olympic House, the headquarters of the national Olympic committee.

Various sectors have complained that the project would cause serious damage to the flora and fauna of the island. Several endangered species live on the proposed pipeline route.

Congressman Luis Gutiérrez also joined the demonstration.

There were a number of performances along the march.

Wrapped with the Puerto Rican flag

No Puerto Rican protest goes ahead without la plena, the favourite rythmic drumbeat on demonstrations.