Former Vice President Al Gore's daughter and other activists arrested at a protest of a natural gas pipeline in Boston have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges.

Karenna Gore, activist Tim DeChristopher and nine others were arraigned Friday on charges including trespassing, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace.

Speaking to reporters outside the hearing she said: 'I'm supporting the people of Roxbury in fighting the Spectra pipeline.'

Former Vice President Al Gore's daughter and other activists arrested at a protest of a natural gas pipeline in Boston have pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges. Pictured: Karenna Gore in court Friday

Speaking to reporters outside the hearing she said: 'I'm supporting the people of Roxbury in fighting the spectre pipepline.'

'I'm really struck by the fact that we are now in a situation where we could make a transition to renewable energy, we know that we must do that, the climate impacts are already here and yet fossil fuel infrastructure continues to be built against the will of local communities only because of the power of corporations.'

She added: 'I'm here as a mother-of-three, a 42-year-old woman who has had a lot of my own experiences and yes, I do accept my father's work has informed my position.'

Twenty-three protesters were arrested Wednesday when they tried to block construction of Spectra Energy's West Roxbury Lateral pipeline.

Several of those arrested struck deals to have their charges reduced to civil infractions or to serve probation.

Gore, DeChristopher and four others didn't agree to those conditions and were ordered back to court July 29. They also were ordered to stay away from the pipeline construction site.

Houston-based Spectra Energy Corp. says the pipeline will provide a reliable energy source.

Karenna Gore, daughter of former Vice President Al Gore protests at the site of Spectra Energy's West Roxbury Lateral pipeline in Boston on Wednesday

She was among demonstrators who tried to block construction activity on the site by lying in a trench dug for the pipeline and refusing to move until firefighters removed them, said protest group Resist the Pipeline & Stop the West Roxbury Lateral

Gore said in an email last week that she was honored to be part of the protest 'as they made the case that there are higher moral principles at stake here that merit nonviolent civil disobedience'.

'The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should be helping us transition to renewable energy like solar and wind but instead they almost always defer to the fossil fuel industry,' she wrote.

Al Gore, who served as vice president under Democratic President Bill Clinton, said he was proud of his daughter.

'We are facing an existential crisis and should speed up the transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy and a decarbonized economy,' he said through a spokeswoman.

Houston-based Spectra Energy Corp. said it does not condone actions that take first responders away from their duties.

Protesters are seen holding signs opposing the pipeline

Al Gore, who served as vice president under Democratic President Bill Clinton, said he was proud of his daughter. They are seen together in this June 2014 file photo

'Our pipelines provide a vital source of reliable, affordable energy for the nation's homes, hospitals, businesses and schools. Low energy prices help everyone, particularly those least able to pay their bills,' company spokesman Creighton Welch said in a statement.

The 5-mile pipeline is part of a larger, roughly $1billion plan to expand natural gas capacity in New England.

Protesters said Buddhist, Jewish and Christian clergy members were among those charged with resisting arrest, as was noted climate change activist Tim DeChristopher, who a few years ago tried to stop drilling operations in Utah.

'We can no longer pretend like what Spectra is doing here in West Roxbury is anything other than digging a mass grave,' DeChristopher said in remarks at the protest.