Governor Joe Manchin III speaks to the press while Bo Webb and Judy Bonds, local activists, and Dr. Ben Stout, a biology professor at Wheeling Jesuit University, linger and converse in the background. Governor Manchin emphasized the importance of a respectful, non-violent dialogue about the issues of mountaintop removal in his meeting with local residents and activists Monday night. Photo by Cheshire/Climate Ground Zero.
Contact: Climate Ground Zero, 304-854-7372 or news@climategroundzero.org
Pettus, W. Va.–This Monday, January 25, W.Va. Governor Joe Manchin held a summit with several opponents of mountaintop removal, including well-known local activists Judy Bonds and Maria Gunnoe, and Dr. Michael Hendryx, a researcher whose studies have concluded that the health costs of coal are greater than the profit it brings in. After the meeting, Manchin, a coal supporter, stated, “We will not in any way, shape or form in this state of West Virginia tolerate any violence against anyone on any side. If you’re going to have the dialogue, have respect for each other.”
Meanwhile on Coal River Mountain, Eric Blevins, 28, and Amber Nitchman, 19, continue to peacefully occupy trees on Massey Energy’s Bee Tree strip mine to halt Massey’s blasting near a sludge dam that endangers the community. While the tree sitters conduct this non-violent protest of mountaintop removal, they face constant harassment from Massey Security. The security personnel have been blasting five airhorns just below the sitters’ platforms to force the sitters to descend. At one point, security personnel tied a rope to a thinner tree next to the one occupied by Nitchman, and repeatedly pulled and released the rope so that it would hit the bottom of Nitchman’s platform. Discussion of spraying the sitters with firehoses has been heard over two-way radios. The police have been shown the appropriate West Virginia legal statute, §61-3E-10, have acknowledged the felony endangerment,and have declined to take any action. Prosecutors and Manchins’ office have also refused to act after being notified of the situation and the laws that Massey is breaking.
On Tuesday, hundreds of people called Governor Manchin’s office and asked that he put an end to Massey’s abuses. Thus far, he has not responded. Many are infuriated by the discrepancy between Manchin’s promises and the violence that Massey continues to perpetuate. “On January 25, Governor Manchin promised all of West Virginia that violence will not be tolerated,” local activist Judy Bonds said. “On January 26th, I and others called the Governor to ask that he step up to the plate to stop the abuse and violence to two peaceful tree sitters, but the Governor has not kept his promise.”
“The abuse continues as soon as the police leave, which sends a strong message to all abusers that it’s okay as long as you don’t get caught,” said Vernon Haltom of Coal River Mountain Watch. “Governor Manchin’s inaction speaks far louder than his promises. If he hopes to restore citizens’ faith that he meant what he said, he needs to take strong action to stop the violence now.”
I bet the Governor does something about this today!
LOL
These stupid ass tree sitters will be in a much more peaceful place where all they have to worry about is getting the hell beat out of them, or in Mr. Blevins’ case, getting an all out anal assault.
West Virginia legal statute, §61-3E-10, Has to do with endangerment with explosives. Not Spraying people with hoses, not blasting them with loud noise or anything else mentioned above. The police won’t do anything because the code doesn’t match the crime.
However there is IRS code that says 501c3 organizations i.e., CGZ…
“…planned and sponsored protest demonstrations at which members were urged to commit acts of civil disobedience did not qualify for IRC 501(c)(3) or (4) exemption.”
Non profit-fraud crackdown coming June 2010, courtesy of the I R S. The treasury inspector general for tax administration report says commitments have been made to start cracking down on bogus, defective or ” non compliant” non profits by June 2010. You can probably expect the audits to start around then.
I applaud the tree sitters! I hope they are supplied with plenty of sturdy ear plugs!
The ones breaking the law are the tree sitters.
Trespassing to shut down a legal business is the crime here.
That they are complaining about air horns is quite ironic.
Sorta like a burglar complaining about the homeowners barking dog.
Donations are being accepted for a chainsaw……
What? You need a chainsaw to give yourself a lobotomy? I mean if you’re not using it, why not remove it. Just dead weight right?