BP station lowered prices, increased traffic amid protest

June 15, 2010|By John Paul (jpaul@wsbt.com)

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. —

The anti-BP sentiment now reaches the Michigan shore. A small group of protesters picketed outside station on Niles and Napier.

Following the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, British Petroleum received the brunt of the blame. As the gulf's impact worsened, patience, for the company seems to run on empty.

"BP has hurt, destroyed, or killed so much down there," said Rick Xaver, a local protester.

As people filled up with BP oil, an anti-BP fueled backlash has occurred online, with a national effort to boycott local BP gas stations Wednesday.

A protest was scheduled outside the American Gas and Oil owned location in St. Joseph, Mich.

"We are not BP, we are a licensed BP dealer," said Paul Piersma, District Manager for the station. "We sell BP gas that's our connection to BP."

Those sentiments were shared by WSBT fans on Facebook. A majority of the responses believed local business owners were not to blame for the spill.

Participants hope the local business can be part of the solution.

"These are our neighbors, people we support and respect," said Xaver. "We hope they can take the message to BP they want small businesses protected like themselves."

As Piersma prepared for Wednesday's boycott outside his station, gas prices were changed minutes before protesters showed up. The price of regular gas decreased from $2.59 a gallon to $2.09. The price was even lower, at $1.99, if the customer opted for a car wash.

A manager from the station told WSBT News prices were lowered because of the protest.

For an hour, the line was backed up along Napier for several blocks and there was plenty of horn-honking at the gas station and on Napier Road.

For protesters, it was business as usual in front of an unexpected, larger audience.

"We're not trying to target this small business," said Jennifer Bounds, local organizer. "BP doesn't have a headquarters in southwest Michigan, the easiest way for us to do it (spread our message) is to go out and find something with BP's brand on it and make people pay attention."

Managers said the prices would return to normal after the protest concluded for the day.

American Gas and Oil owns three BP stations in Saint Joseph. Locations near I-94 and in Downtown Saint Joseph did not lower their price.

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