Activists Set to Defy Ban on WVa Mining Protests

Published on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 by Associated Press

Activists Set to Defy Ban on WVa Mining Protests

by Associated Press

BECKLEY, W.Va. - Environmental activists hinted Monday that they may defy a judge's order banning protests at mountaintop removal mine sites run by Virginia-based Massey Energy.

After a hearing in Raleigh County Circuit Court, Judge John Hutchinson extended a previous order about the protests until March 24. That's when he will consider Massey's request for an even longer injunction.

Hutchinson said his order applies not only to people Massey lawyers accused of trespassing, but also to any "associates" of those activists.

Protester Rory McIlmoil, a community organizer with Coal River Mountain Watch, objected to the order as being too broad and potentially covering thousands of people.

"Then it enjoins thousands of people," the judge shot back. "Everyone is enjoined from interfering with the processes at these facilities."

Activists are angry not only about environmental damage caused by the particularly destructive form of strip mining, but also about the greenhouse gases that are generated by the burning of coal.

Since February, a dozen people have been cited for protests that included blocking roads or chaining themselves to heavy equipment.

Activist Mike Roselle of Climate Ground Zero, who has moved to West Virginia to lead the protests, was involved in three actions along with activist James McGuinness.

"If we let this stop us, then we lose our campaign," Roselle said. "And we can't lose our campaign."

Independent journalist Antrim Caskey was cited for trespassing at least twice for photographing the protests and is among those Massey names in its filings.

Hutchinson's first order banning protests was issued Feb. 27, but activists were back at it within a week. On March 5, five protesters who had not been involved in the previous actions blocked a road.

Massey then got a temporary restraining order from Judge Robert A. Burnside.

Hutchinson combined the orders and extended his own to March 24.

© 2009 Associated Press

 

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.net

 

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs