Today we took our protests against mountaintop removal national. Decision-makers from in New York and Washington D.C. have been getting the message loud and clear that mountaintop removal’s end must come soon. Hundreds participated today with Mountain Justice, Rainforest Action Network, Energy Justice Network and other environmental groups in nationwide protests demanding an end to mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia.
Furthermore, activists raised the issue of Coal River Mountain, the last intact mountain in the Coal River Valley that Massey Energy started mountaintop removal operations on in recent weeks. A national outcry has gone out over Coal River Mountain prompting many environmental groups to call EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and President Obama.
As part of the national day of, 13 people staged a sit-in at the EPA headquarters in Washington, DC. They were joined by 50 coalfield residents and allies who held a rally in front of the building. The sit-in ended peacefully with no arrests after it was evident that the EPA is getting the message about mountaintop removal loud and clear.
In San Francisco, a zombie march worked it’s way to the EPA Regional Office there with a message for the EPA to use it’s braaaaiiins and end mountaintop removal. In New York City, yesterday activists gathered for the Carnival of Destruction at JP Morgan Chase’s HQ in mid-town Manhattan (Chase is the biggest funder of MTR on Wall Street.) In Philadelphia, activists dropped a banner saying “Save Coal River Mountain” near EPA regional headquarters. Both NYC and Philly had actions at the EPA regional offices today as well. Tonight in New York, there will be a reading of “Light Comes” a theatrical play about mountaintop removal in Kentucky. Boston activists flyered their regional EPA Offices and met with the regional director.
Cities from Seattle to Atlanta will be reporting back about their actions at EPA offices and JPMorgan Chase branches in the next few hours. Look for more pics, video and reportbacks. If you got some you want posted, please email them to sparkin@ran.org
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Thanks for all you do. We need a great uprising to get our government to stop the destruction of our mountains. The general population doesn’t know about it yet. We must keep on getting the word out however we can.
Not many folks even know there is a West Virginia. They think I live in west Virginia. So, it’s understandable they know even less about Mountaintop terrorism.
If they came they could see legions of citizens wearing black “IMPEACH BLANKENSHIP” tee shirts. Keep flicking on the lightswitches. Sooner or later your spotlights will penetrate the green coal dust.
I support your work. A question, however. Why do you believe JPMorgan is the biggest financier of MTR on Wall Street?