FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Four Protesters, ages 22 to 81, and Journalist Arrested at Blockade of Massey Energy Regional Headquarters
Contact – Andrew Munn 304-513-4710
Note – Go to www.climategroundzero.org for pictures, audio, video and updates
JULIAN, W.Va.—Four protesters blocking the road to Massey Energy’s Regional Headquarters in Boone County and a journalist covering the event were arrested this morning. The protesters are charged with trespass, conspiracy, destruction of property, disobeying a lawful order and resisting arrest. Roland Micklem, 81, James McGuinness, 53, Joseph Hamsher, 22, and Fred Williamson, 75, comprised the human roadblock. The journalist, Gianni Lapis, is charged with trespass, failure to obey a lawful command, and conspiracy.
“All four have pledged to not participate in property destruction — these are likely just trumped up charges,” Charles Suggs of Climate Ground Zero said.
The four men used plastic pipes and chain to lock themselves together and to a guardrail and light post, shutting down the road to the headquarters for early morning traffic. State troopers and Boone County Sheriffs were on the scene soon after the lockdown and bolt cutters arrived shortly thereafter. Police cut the chains binding the men to the guardrail and light post and dragged them to the side of the road by the pipes that still locked their arms together.
Eyewitness Ivan Stiefel also reported that two of the three drivers-by who stopped to ask questions were supportive of the protesters. “One fellow was a deep miner passing through on his way to Charleston and broke down on the road,” Stiefel said. “He went to the cops to ask to use their phone to call a cab and was told to leave or he’d be arrested for trespassing. So he walked over to us and asked if it was a strike.
“I said it was a protest against Massey and mountaintop removal. He said he was a deep miner and hoped we didn’t hold that against him, but he didn’t like mountaintop removal. We said it was mountaintop removal and Massey’s horrible business practices we were protesting. Then we talked a while and called him a cab.”
Stiefel and other bystanders were asked to leave before the team was taken from the scene.
“I am exercising a spiritual obligation as a steward of Creation. It was not God’s intent that these mountains be destroyed to enhance the wealth of a few individuals,” said Micklem. “This should not be solely a young person’s campaign. Now that they have provided the example and inspiration, we seniors need to make a statement with our own actions and share the risks that are part of this ongoing effort to stop the obliteration of West Virginia’s mountains.”
Micklem is organizing a 25-mile senior citizen’s march set to begin in
Charleston on Oct. 5. All four protesters are being held on $5,000
bail each, while the journalist is held on $3,000.
It is nice to see people out there doing something. Makes me feel like a bump on a log. Good for these folks. Doing stuff like that is scary. I wish them well, and I hope they get off.
Those charges don’t look like they would hold. Exactly what property did they destroy. I can only see the trespassing charge with anything behind it.
I heard the property destruction charge was because the police got some tar on their gloves and pants from the tubes their arms were locked into.