Daryl Hannah arrested outside White House

Eco-crusader and erstwhile actress Daryl Hannah was arrested outside the White House on Tuesday (Aug. 30) while protesting the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline.

"Sometimes it's necessary to sacrifice your freedom for a greater freedom," Hannah said prior to her arrest. "And we want to be free from the horrible death and destruction that fossil fuels cause, and have a clean energy future."

The Keystone XL pipeline would carry oil from Canada to Texas. Critics argue that it could pollute water sources, devastate ecosystems and pose a potential threat to public health.

According to NBC Washington, Hannah, along with several more protesters, refused to leave the sidewalk in front of the White House despite repeated requests from police. The actress was then handcuffed by police. But after paying a $100 fine she was released.

The group that organized the protest -- Tar Sands Action -- calls the decision to approve or block the pipeline is one of the most important Barack Obama will face in his presidency.

Hannah was previously arrested in 2006 for protesting plans to bulldoze a Los Angeles urban community garden and again in 2009 for protesting mountain-top removal in West Virginia.