Kinder Morgan Protesters Launch Online Face Assault (TWEETS)

Assulting y'all with my #KMface pic.twitter.com/MeyRP6UiV1

— Cori Yule (@corrior) November 7, 2014

Anti-pipeline protesters in B.C. are having a good laugh over energy giant Kinder Morgan's latest court argument: that activists' facial expressions could constitute assault.

The company is seeking an injunction against activists, who have been blockading pipeline work in Burnaby.

Lawyer Bill Kaplan, who represents Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain subsidiary, presented photographs of the protesters with facial expressions he said were malicious.

"One of the things I will argue is that is not only intimidation, but that is actually an assault,'' he said in B.C. Supreme Court on Wednesday "Some of the faces demonstrate the anger, and frankly, the violence demonstrated by some of the people.''

As Kaplan presented his evidence, supporters of the demonstrators in the packed gallery frequently burst into laughter and called out snide remarks.

And they continued on social media with the hashtag #KMFace:

.@TransMtn argues facial expressions are assault. No joke: http://t.co/K3Tv4HiE3o What's your #KMface?

— Dogwood Initiative (@dogwoodbc) November 6, 2014

Angriest cat in the world, aka Colonel Meow, is angry. #KMFace @dogwoodbc #KinderMorgan pic.twitter.com/HozV3vz856

— Erin Gray (@_ErinRGray) November 7, 2014

. @dogwoodbc My #KMface for the record: http://t.co/Ci8qFEGTkd

— Gregor Robertson (@MayorGregor) November 8, 2014

Assault? Really scraping the bottom of the barrel. THIS IS MY EMU #KMFACE @nopipelines #nopipelines http://t.co/QVyXcvgKGT

— Philosophy Canada (@philosophycanad) November 7, 2014

#KMface pic.twitter.com/aTrfgeuvJP

— Stop Kinder Morgan (@stopkmorgan) November 7, 2014

My #KMface pic.twitter.com/orgfWPjsSh

— Adrian (@Itiswhatido) November 7, 2014

This is ridiculous. http://t.co/gQw9sMMwn8 Hey #KinderMorgan, here's my #KMface. #StopKinderMorgan pic.twitter.com/RNsT82tClC

— David Turnbull (@david_turnbull) November 7, 2014

Giving #KinderMorgan stink eye re court claim that protesters' facial expressions were an assault. This is my #KMface pic.twitter.com/FVOcMvYH0q

— Michelle Young (@Wild4Salmon) November 7, 2014

.@TransMtn argues facial expressions are assault. No joke: http://t.co/9EC50bbi8r What's your #KMface? Here's mine. pic.twitter.com/a9wRF0i1qJ

— Karl Hardin (@karlhardin) November 6, 2014

Kinder Morgan operatives consider arrest in tongue-poking incident by known subversive: #KMface pic.twitter.com/OQ0tBPauGw

— KiwiReporter (@KiwiReporter) November 7, 2014

The Trans Mountain expansion would almost triple the capacity of its existing pipeline between Alberta and B.C. to 900,000 barrels of crude a day. The NEB granted approval for Trans Mountain work including geophysical mapping, drilling of bore holes, groundwater investigation and surveys of wildlife, soil, and vegetation.

The company says it wishes to fence off areas for the work and post safety signs, but alleges the protesters have threatened further confrontation if they go forward.

With files from The Canadian Press

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