Biography
Climate activist and one of the five "Valve Turners" who on October 11, 2016 simultaneously shut off emergency valves on five tar sands pipelines carrying crude oil from Canada to the United States. Ward closed the Kinder Morgan pipeline in Burlington, Washington. After two trials, he was convicted of burglary; his case made history when the Washington Supreme Court ultimately ruled defendants must be allowed to present a climate-necessity defense to juries.
Custody and sentence reviewed October 12, 2026: The Climate Disobedience Center's sentencing press release explicitly states that the two days of custody were served when Ward was arrested, supporting admission on October 11, 2016. Contemporary OPB reporting on June 23, 2017 confirms the completed sentence. Community service and supervision were distinguished from prison time. No release date was calculated by adding two days to arrest; the exact physical endpoint remains unverified.
