The water poured off my hood and splashed on my lens, frustrating my attempts to clear the drops of Tennessee rain. Documenting the International Youth Climate Movement, had brought me to Knoxville, Tennessee. However, the raindrops, otter like hair and foggy glasses I had to deal with were minor issues compared to what I photographed today.
This afternoon, the March in March, an action organized by Mountain Justice and coinciding with the Mountain Justice Spring Break took place in front of the TVA headquarters here in Knoxville.
From the Mountain Justice website: “Local residents joined dozens of activists from across the country today in a demonstration at the Tennessee Valley Authority’s headquarters, which resulted in the arrest of 14 individuals, after participating in a “die in” in front of the building . This event was held in solidarity with communities affected by the destructive impacts of Mountaintop Removal coal mining and the survivors of the recent coal ash disaster in Harriman.”
The rain stops, the sun shines, the clothing dries and the cameras survive to shoot another day. What won’t survive is the coal industry.
See more of the images here (All images © Robert vanWaarden)
Rally video part 1:
The TVA has more problems then just coal ash!
http://tinyurl.com/dc99ey
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