Amber Nitchman and Eric Blevins descended from their trees on Coal River Mountain Friday at noon in the face of an oncoming winter storm. The action brought attention from Governor Manchin, the Washington Post, and stopped the destruction for nine days. But our work is far from over.
Nitchman, Blevins, David Aaron Smith, David Baghdadi, Benard Fiorillo, Josh Graupera and Isabelle Rozendaal stopped a blast site on Coal River Mountain for nine days, and their total bail amounts to $9,625.00. Nitchman and Blevins are still in jail, held for a combined cash-only total of $5,000. Bail is paid to the state of West Virginia to release people who have been arrested. The state then returns it in full when the person goes to trial. A donation to the legal fund stays in the campaign and enables us to expand the campaign of civil resistance.
Please donate to the Mountain Justice legal defense fund: Paypal, or another method.
The most egregious charge out of all seven people was the concealed weapon charge levied against Baghdadi for a tree limb saw. He was trying to get the saw to Nitchman so she could saw off a sapling that was being repeatedly slammed into her platform. The three sitters were charged with trespass, conspiracy and obstruction, while the remaining four were charged with trespass and conspiracy.
Thank you everyone who has supported us for almost a year. We’ll bring you all updates from Eric and Amber when they are out of jail, warm and well rested.
You can also support us in a more indirect fashion through the purchase of the critically acclaimed Still Moving Mountains CD, or the long-awaited photography exposé, Dragline.
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