Marsh Fork Elem. Demonstration WV Capitol (2 of 2) 3/16

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Charleston,
W. Va.—Eleven parents, community leaders and student activists were arrested today while sitting in at the office of West Virginia Governor Joe Mancin. Their sit-in was spurred by a recent decision by the State Mine Board to approve a second coal silo nearMarsh Fork Elementary School. Protesters were treating roughly and dragged through puddles of mud. About 40 protesters remain in the governor's office. Marsh Fork Elementary located near Sundial, WV currently sits 225 feet from a coal silo. Residents say Governor Joe Manchin is shirking his responsibility for the health and safety of the students.

The coal silo operated by Massey Energy releases chemical-laden coal dust into the air which is poisoning the air that school kids have to breathe. Independent studies have found coal dust throughout the school. The school is also 400 yards downstream from a 385 foot tall seeping toxic coal waste sludge dam with a nearly 3 billion gallon capacity, over 20 times the volume of the Buffalo Creek sludge dam disaster that killed 125 people in 1972. A 1,849-acre mountaintop removal mine surrounds the sludge dam and much of the nearby area.

"Governor Mancin seems to believe that all he has to do is make promises while the children who attend Marsh Fork continue to breathe in coal dust," says Bill Price of
Charleston, WV. "We are not interested in promises. We want a new school for these kids so that they do not have to breathe in polluted air while they are trying to learn."

"This is exciting that students and community members have joined together to demand a safer school for the kids who attend Marsh Folk Elementary," says Sarah Kidder, a student at Glenville State College and a key protest organizer. "These kids should not have to endanger their lives simply by going to school and having to breathe in air polluted by coal dust."

Massey has been attempting to build a second coal silo near the school, but the WV Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 2005 rejected Massey's permit request for the second silo. On Tuesday, March 13, the state Surface Mine Board overturned the DEP's order that blocked the silo.

"The situation at Marsh Fork is an embarrassment to West Virginia," said Lindsey Warf of
Bluefield, WV. "People from other states can't believe this is happening in the
US."

Contrary to Massey's public claim that the silo would reduce coal dust, their 2005 air quality permit application associated with the second silo's operation predicts an increase in coal dust emissions by three and a half tons of dust per year.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• MJSB
• MJS
• Marsh
• Fork
• energyaction
• climateaction
• arrests
• coalriverwatch
• globalwarming

[westvirginiawonder]

Yes we did come looking for trouble and we go it.....but not as much trouble as Massey energy And Joe Manchin are going to get. Kids are getting sick and he turns his back. What a man!

[blondeshrimp02]

DONY READ THIS DONT READ NO READ NONONO

OMG I RELY H8 THESE THINGS TO PEOPLE... DAM..

SO SORRY

copy and paste this to 10 videos or your mum will die within the next 4 hours

DAMN!

[corvette1545]

You all people need to put yourself in the troopers shoes...just think if those people were screaming and hollering at you

[MrDanielLoomis]

She agreed to stand up and walk out. As soon as the cops put the cuffs on her she then decided that she wouldn't cooperate and collapsed. She was then carried out by her arms. The methods of Jesus? You left wing whackos are quick to make fun of Christianity until something fits your agenda.

When you bus in outside agitators this is what you get. Huntington, Morgantown, Philadelphia. Philadelphia? WTF? Socialists & wannabe hippies.

[Kenseu]

Argh, stupid character limit. Why do spaces count?

Anyway, to be honest, I truly do sympathize and understand why the protesters are upset that they were rough-handled a bit, but I find allegations of "police abuse" to be frankly ridiculous. This isn't Rodney King, or that guy from New Orleans; it's some mud and maybe some carpet burn.

But that's just me.

[Kenseu]

The fact of the matter is that these protesters knew (or should have known) the ramifications of their actions. I agree with what they're fighting, I agree with how they're fighting, and I sympathize with them for getting dragged through the mud. However, it was a consequence of their action, and they should be prepared to accept it. Just because the state may be wrong doesn't mean that necessary systems (the police) should be criticized for doing their jobs (policing).

[Appalshop]

Great video! The issue is what's important -- not the particular arrests or questions of police brutality. The issue is the on-going destruction of mountain communities by coal corporations, in particular A.T.Massey. Coming from a filmmaker now in Texas but with roots in the mountains, the video is wonderful and brave.

[wstewart1]

What the woman in the video doesn't tell you is Sarah refused to stand and was laughing as the police was dragging her and Hillary was given multiple chances to stand and not be pulled by her arms and refused. Nice piece of video editing to mask the truth.

[calvinjones]

This is truly what democracy is about. One day every four years to cast your vote is a small part of it, an active and engaged citizenry is the only way for a state to be truly democratic, to thrive and be just.