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| − | '''Mountain Justice''' is a grassroots movement established in 2005 to raise world-wide awareness of [[mountaintop removal]] mining and its effects on the environment and peoples of Appalachia. The group seeks to encourage conservation, efficiency, solar and wind energy as alternatives to all forms of surface mining.
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| − | The group is non-hierarchical and decisions are made using a consensus model of decision making.
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| − | In 2008, the group shortened their name from Mountain Justice Summer to simply Mountain Justice to reflect the year round efforts of their activities.<ref>[http://www.mountainjustice.org/who_we_are/goals.php Goals of Mountain Justice], Mountain Justice website, accessed February 2008.</ref>
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| − | ==Group details==
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| − | '''Location:''' Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia
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| − | '''Mission Statement:''' Mountain Justice seeks to add to the growing anti-MTR citizens movement. Specifically Mountain Justice demands an abolition of MTR, steep slope strip mining and all other forms of surface mining for coal. We work to protect the cultural and natural heritage of the Appalachia coal fields. We work to contribute with grassroots organizing, public education, nonviolent civil disobedience and other forms of citizen action.
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| − | Historically coal companies have engaged in violence and property destruction when faced with citizen opposition to their activities. Mountain Justice is committed to nonviolence and will not be engaged in property destruction.
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| − | We work together to create diverse and sustainable economies in Appalachian regions traditionally dominated by the coal industry by supporting businesses, jobs and ways of living that are not environmentally or culturally destructive and are nourishing to the social and biological fabric of healthy communities.<br>
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| − | '''Group website:''' [http://www.mountainjustice.org/ Mountain Justice]<br>
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| − | ==Actions==
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| − | [[Image:20050607.jpg|thumb|right|Activists disrupt National Coal Corporation's June 7, 2005 stockholders meeting.]]
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| − | ===June 7, 2005: First stockholders meeting of National Coal Corporation Disrupted===
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| − | On June 7, 2005, approximately 45 Mountain Justice activists, some in animal costumes, surprised the first-ever shareholders meeting of Knoxville-based National Coal Corporation with a marching band, chants, drumming and noise makers. Demonstrators demanded that National Coal stop mountaintop removal mining and distributed informational flyers to shareholders. The sheriff and National Coal Corporation responded by assaulting protesters with pain compliance, choke holds and arrested three on bogus felony charges. <ref>[http://www.mountainjustice.org/actions/2005-6-07/index.php First stockholders meeting of National Coal Corporation Disrupted], ''Mountain Justice'', April 29, 2008.</ref>
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| − | [[Image:20050630.jpg|thumb|left|WV citizens arrested on June 30, 2005 after refusing to leave Massey's Richmond VA headquarters until their demands heard.]]
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| − | ===June 30, 2005: WV citizens occupy Massey headquarters===
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| − | On June 30, 2005, Concerned parents, grandparents and other citizens of Coal River Valley, West Virginia, with support from Mountain Justice participants, delivered a list of demands to Massey Energy's headquarters in Richmond, Virginia, insisting that Massey respond. Two were arrested for trespassing when they refused to leave the premises until Massey responded to their demands. The citizens demanded that Massey shut down its preparation plant, coal silo, 1,849-acre mountaintop removal coal mine and 2.8 billion-gallon coal sludge dam - a toxic waste storage facility — located feet from an elementary school, [http://www.sludgesafety.org/what_me_worry/marsh_fork/index.html Marsh Fork Elementary], in Sundail, WV. <ref>[http://www.mountainjustice.org/actions/2005-6-30/index.php Coalfield citizens arrested delivering demands to Massey headquarters], ''Mountain Justice'', June 30, 2005.</ref><ref>[http://www.sludgesafety.org/news/2005/06_30.html Coalfield citizens arrested delivering demands to Massey headquarters], ''Richmond Times Dispatch'', June 30, 2005.</ref>
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| − | [[Image:BlockTripod.jpg|thumb|right|[http://www.earthfirst.org/ Earth First!] and [http://www.mountainjustice.org/ Mountain Justice] activists blockade a road leading to National Coal's mountaintop removal coal mine on Aug. 15, 2005.]]
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| − | ===Aug. 15, 2005: Earth First!/Mountain Justice blockade of Campbell County mountaintop removal site===
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| − | On August 15, 2005, [[Earth First!]] and Mountain Justice activists blockaded a road leading to National Coal's mountaintop removal coal mine in Campbell County, Tennessee. Activists stopped a car on the road, removed its tires, locked themselves to the vehicle, and erected a tripod with a person perched on top of it. National Coal workers arrived and threatened the protestors; one tried to ram the tripod with his car. Eleven people were arrested; the police treated the arrested activists very roughly, endangering their safety.<ref>[http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=27927 Eleven Arrested Protesting ET Coal Mine], WBIR website, August 15, 2005.</ref><ref>[http://www.minesandcommunities.org/Action/press707.htm Tennessee Coal Road Blocked to Protest Mountaintop Removal Mining], Mines & Communities website, August 15, 2005.</ref>
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| − | [[Image:M16 governor occupation.jpg|thumb|left|Local resident Frank Young is handcuffed at a sit-in of West Virginia Gov. Manchin's office on Mar. 16, 2007.]]
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| − | ===June 26, 2007: March & Street Theater at Dominion Headquarters===
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| − | On June 26, 2007, more than 35 people with the Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards and Mountain Justice marched in Richmond, VA, calling for Dominion to abandon its plans for a [[Wise County Plant]] in southwest Virginia. The march began at Massey Energy’s headquarters, where participants acted out a “baby shower” for newly-mined coal. With “baby coal” placed in a coffin, the march moved to Dominion Resources’ headquarters and a mock funeral was held for the coal, drawing a line between strip mining and coal-fired power plants. <ref>[http://www.mountainjustice.org/events.php?id=73 “Virginians say “No” to a new coal-fired power plant in Wise County; Protests at Massey and Dominion”], Mountain Justice, June 26, 2007.</ref>
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| − | ===Mar. 16, 2007: Sit-in at West Virginia Gov. Manchin's office===
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| − | On March 16, 2007, dozens of West Virginia community members - together with activists from Mountain Justice and [[Rising Tide North America]] - occupied the office of West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, in protest of the State Mine Board's approval of construction permits for a second coal silo near Marsh Fork Elementary School in Sundial, West Virginia. Community activists demanded that the state move the school; state officials have failed to comply thus far. Eleven people were arrested at this action, and many were treated roughly by police.<ref>[http://www.mountainjustice.org/actions/2007-3-16/index.php 11 Protesters Arrested at West Virginia Governor’s Office], Mountain Justice website, accessed January 2008.</ref>
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| − | [[Image:N15 RAN Citi cough-in.jpg|thumb|right|[http://www.ran.org Rainforest Action Network] activists stage a "cough-in" at a Citibank branch in San Francisco, CA, on Nov. 15, 2007.]]
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| − | ===Nov. 15, 2007: Rainforest Action Network day of action against coal finance===
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| − | On November 15, 2007, [[Rainforest Action Network]] activists - acting together with allies from [http://www.crmw.net/ Coal River Mountain Watch], [[Appalachian Voices], [[Rising Tide North America]], Mountain Justice, [[Student Environmental Action Coalition]], and [[Energy Justice Network]] - staged dozens of actions against Citibank and Bank of America branches in cities across the county, in protest of those two companies' refusal to stop funding new coal power plant development and coal mountaintop removal mining. In San Francisco, RAN activists attached caution tape - reading "Global Warming Crime Scene" - to dozens of Bank of America and Citibank ATMs, and held "cough-ins" in several branches. Similar ATM closure actions were held in New York City, Davis (CA), Los Angeles, Portland (OR), and St. Petersburg (FL), while protests against the two companies were held in numerous other cities.<ref>[http://ran.org/media_center/news_article/?uid=2443 Thousands Take to the Streets to Protest Citi and Bank of America’s Coal Investments], Rainforest Action Network press release, November 16, 2007. For photos, see RAN's [http://www.flickr.com/photos/rainforestactionnetwork/sets/72157603212021123/ Flickr page].</ref>
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| − | ===March 6, 2008: Bluegrass at the Bank, Boone, NC===
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| − | On March 6, 2008, approximately two dozen Mountain Justice activists visited a Bank of America in Boone North Carolina to protest the bank's funding of mountaintop removal coal mining and coal-fired power plants. The action was the third bluegrass-themed protest in a week in which Action Jackson, an Appalachian string band from East Tennessee staged a traditional fiddle and banjo jam inside a Bank of America branch while others demonstrated in opposition to Bank of America's investments in coal.<ref>[http://www.mountainjustice.org/actions/2008-3-5/index.php Mountain Justice website], accessed 9/26/2008</ref>
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| − | [[Image:M28_AMP.JPG|thumb|right|[http://www.mjsb.org/ Mountain Justice Spring Break] participants occupy the AMP-Ohio headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, on Mar. 28, 2008.]]
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| − | ===March 28, 2008: Mountain Justice Spring Break action at AMP-Ohio headquarters in Columbus===
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| − | On March 28, 2008, activists participating in [http://www.mjsb.org Mountain Justice Spring Break] occupied the lobby of [[American Municipal Power - Ohio|AMP-Ohio's]] headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, and demanded a meeting with AMP's CEO Marc Gerken. Several people stated their intention to conduct a sit-in in the office if their demands weren't met; about 40 people protested outside. After 30 minutes, Gerken met with the protestors, and agreed to their demands: to schedule a meeting of the Board of Trustees at which community members could present their concerns with AMP-Ohio's proposed [[American Municipal Power Generating Station|coal-fired power plant]] in Meigs County, Ohio. No arrests were made.<ref>[http://watthead.blogspot.com/2008/03/mountain-justice-takes-on-king-coal-in.html "Mountain Justice Takes On King Coal in Columbus"], WattHead blog, Mar. 28, 2008.</ref>
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| − | [[Image:BREF06_30_08.jpg|thumb|left|Blue Ridge Earth First! and Mountain Justice blockades Dominion's headquarters to protest planned coal-fired power plant in SW Virginia. June 30, 2008.]]
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| − | ===June 30, 2008: Activists Blockade Dominion Headquarters===
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| − | On June 30, 2008, 20 Activists with Blue Ridge [[Earth First!]] and Mountain Justice blockaded the entrance to Dominion Resources' corporate headquarters to protest the company's plan for the new coal-fired [[Wise County Plant]] in Southwest Virginia. Four protesters formed a human chain with their hands encased in containers of hardened cement and a fifth dangled by a climber's harness from the Lee Bridge footbridge. After several hours police made there way through the miles of backed up traffic to cut the activists out of the lockboxes and barrels. The climber came down on his own. Police also detained eight others standing on the sidewalks supporting the lockdown team. 13 in total were arrested.<ref>[http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-06-30-0186.html "Thirteen arrested in protest at Dominion today"], Richmond Times-Dispatch, June 30, 2008.</ref>.
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| − | ===July 10, 2008: Mountain Justice activists protest approval of coal gasification plant, Boston, MA===
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| − | On July 10, 2008, nearly fifty Mountain Justice activists gathered in opposition to a coal project in Massachusetts, donning haz-mat suits and delivering a pile of coal while displaying "global warming crime scene" caution tape on the front steps of the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs in Boston. The action was in response to the office dismissing an appeal of the state's approval for a coal gasification project in Somerset, MA.<ref>[http://www.mountainjustice.org/actions/2008-07-10/index.php Mountain Justice Press Release July 10, 2008], Mountain Justice website, accessed, 9/26/2008</ref>
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| − | [[Image:080720_ZEB_MTN.jpg|thumb|left|In an act of civil disobedience, four citizen activists walked across a line designating National Coal Corporation's property at Zeb Mountain. The four were immediately arrested. July 20, 2008.]]
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| − | === July 20, 2008: Four arrested at Tennessee strip mine ===
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| − | On July 20, 2008, residents from coal-impacted communities throughout Appalachia gathered for a march at Zeb Mountain, the largest surface coal mining site in Tennessee, to protest the environmentally destructive practice of mountaintop removal and surface coal mining. The march was organized by [http://www.unitedmountaindefense.org United Mountain Defense], Mountain Justice, and Three Rivers [[Earth First!]] and included political theater, life-sized puppets and rousing speeches.<ref>[http://thesmallaxe.wordpress.com/2008/07/21/appalachian-residents-gather-to-march-on-zeb-mountain/ APPALACHIAN RESIDENTS GATHER TO MARCH ON ZEB MOUNTAIN], The Small Ax, 7/21/2008</ref>
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| − | In an act of civil disobedience, four citizen activists walked across a line marked with police tape designating National Coal Corporation's property. The four were immediately arrested without incidence and removed from the property by the Campbell County Sheriff's office.<ref>[http://understory.ran.org/2008/07/20/more-anti-coal-direct-action-at-east-tennessee-strip-mine-site/ More anti-coal direct action at Appalachian mine site], Rainforest Action Network, 7/21/2008</ref>
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| − | [[Image:WISECTY091508.jpg|thumb|right|On September 15, 2008, protesters locked their bodies to steel drums at the construction site of Dominion Virginia's new coal-fired power plant in Wise County, VA.]]
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| − | === September 15, 2008: 20 Protesters lock-down at Dominion coal plant construction site, Wise County, VA===
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| − | Early morning on September 15, 2008 around 50 peaceful protesters entered the construction site of [[Dominion]] Virginia's coal-fired [[Wise County Plant]]. Twenty protesters locked their bodies to eight large steel drums, two of which have operational solar panels affixed to the top that illuminated a banner reading "renewable jobs to renew Appalachia." In addition to those locked to the construction site, over 25 protesters from across the country convened in front of the plant singing and holding a 10'x30' banner, which said "we demand a clean energy future." Eleven were arrested. This action was organized by Mountain Justice, Blue Ridge [[Earth First!]], [[Rainforest Action Network]], [[Rising Tide North America|Asheville Rising Tide]], and Students for Democratic Society.<ref>[http://www.wiseupdominion.org/ Peaceful Protesters Lock their Bodies to Dominion Power Plant] Press Release, Wise Up Dominion, website accessed September 15, 2008</ref>
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| − | ===March 14, 2009: 14 Arrested at TVA headquarters in Knoxville, TN===
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| − | Local residents joined dozens of activists from across the country in a demonstration at the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]]’s headquarters, which resulted in the arrest of 14 individuals, after participating in a "die in" in front of the building. This event was held in solidarity with communities affected by the destructive impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining and the survivors of the coal ash disaster in Harriman. The demonstration began with a rally in Market Square, where organizers from [[United Mountain Defense]] and Mountain Justice spoke about coal's impact from cradle to grave on communities in Appalachia and the surrounding area. The crowd then marched through downtown Knoxville and ended at TVA’s headquarters. At the end of the march people interested in participating in civil disobedience gave a statement as to why they wanted to take this action. With the support of a singing crowd each participant fell to the ground representing the deaths caused by the coal industry. After a few minutes Knoxville law enforcement informed the participants that they were blocking the sidewalk, and that they needed to remove themselves from the area. All 14 people were arrested, and cited for loitering.<ref>[http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org/events.php?id=143 "March 14, 2009: Fourteen Arrested At TVA Headquarters During March in March,"] Mountain Justice website, accessed March 15, 2009</ref>
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| − | ===March 20, 2009: 'Bluegrass at the Bank' hits Florida Bank of America branch===
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| − | Members of Mountain Justice and [[Earth First!]] from Florida and Appalachia disrupted the lobby of a [[Bank of America]] branch in Sarasota, FL in protest of the Bank's continued funding of mountaintop removal mining and the construction of new coal-fired power plants despite recent claims of environmental concern. While several folks distributed informational hand-outs about BoA's investments in coal to tellers and account-holders, one individual played bluegrass banjo to celebrate the culture of the Appalachian region that BoA's investments so threaten. The activists' signs read 'Bank of America: still funding coal, killing communities.'
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| − | ===May 23, 2009: 17 arrested at 3 separate action in Coal River Valley, WV===
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| − | In the morning, two people donning hazmat suits and respirators were arrested after taking boating into the Brushy Fork Impoundment in the Coal River Valley.<ref name="nvcdicrv">[http://mountainjustice.org/actions/2009-05-23/index.php "Non-violent civil disobedience in Coal River Valley, WV",] Mountain Justice website, accessed August 3, 2010.</ref>
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| − | Later, over seventy-five residents of Coal River Valley along with members of Mountain Justice and [[Climate Ground Zero]] picketed the entrance to [[Massey Energy]]'s [[Marfork Complex]] mining site.<ref name="nvcdicrv"/> The group was protesting Massey's plans to blast 100 feet near the Brushy Fork sludge impoundment.<ref name="nvcdicrv"/> Seven people were arrested after approaching the dam facility's entrance and refusing to leave.<ref name="nvcdicrv"/>
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| − | In the third action, six people chained themselves to a dump truck on a MTR mine owned by [[Patriot Coal]] on Kayford Mountain.<ref name="nvcdicrv"/> All six were arrested.
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| − | ===June 23, 2009: 31 Arrested at Marsh Fork Elementary School===
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| − | Mountain Justice and residents of Coal River Valley again joined forces for a rally at [[Marsh Fork Elementary School]], where the group delivered a list of demands to Massey Energy.<ref name=" tadicrv">[http://mountainjustice.org/actions/2009-06-23/index.php 31 Arrested demanding justice in Coal River Valley, WV,] Mountain Justice website, accessed August 3, 2010.</ref> The approximately 400 protesters were met by Massey employees, who shouted obscenities and taunts at the protesters.<ref name=" tadicrv"/> Arrests were made after a smaller group of the activists sat down in the middle of the road.<ref name=" tadicrv"/> Among those arrested were 94-year-old former U.S. Congressperson Ken Hechler, [[NASA]] scientist [[James E. Hansen]], actress Daryl Hannah, [[Rainforest Action Network]]'s executive director Michael Brune, and West Virginia residents including Lorelei Scarboro, Dana Kuhnline, and Larry Gibson.<ref name=" tadicrv"/>
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| − | ===July 26, 2009: MJS parades against the TVA in Knoxville, TN===
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| − | An activist parade full of songs and rhythms, puppets and sidewalk chalk, made its way through downtown Knoxville.<ref name=" mjpsudk">[http://mountainjustice.org/actions/2009-07-26/index.php Mountain Justice parade shakes up downtown Knoxville,] Mountain Justice website, accessed August 3, 2010.</ref> Almost 100 people associated with Mountain Justice, [http://www.unitedmountaindefense.org/ United Mountain Defense], and Three Rivers [[Earth First!]].<ref name=" mjpsudk"/> Around the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]] Headquarters and the John J. Duncan Federal Building, home of the Office of Surface Mining environmental regulator.<ref name=" mjpsudk"/> The group protested the TVA's involvement in coal extraction and combustion, especially in light of the [[TVA Kingston Fossil Plant coal ash spill|December 2008 coal combustion waste spill at a TVA plant]].<ref name=" mjpsudk"/>
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| − | ===August 14-19, 2009: Nationwide rallies at regional EPA headquarters===
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| − | Rallies were held against the [[Environmental Protection Agency]]'s role in mountaintop removal at the regional EPA offices in Atlanta, New York, Boston, Dallas, Kansas City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.<ref name=" nrioomr">[http://mountainjustice.org/actions/2009-08-14/index.php Nationwide rallies in opposition of mountaintop removal,] Mountain Justice website, accessed August 3, 2010.</ref> Some of the groups involved were Mountain Justice, [http://www.unitedmountaindefense.org/United Mountain Defense], [[Student Environmental Action Coalition]], and [[Energy Justice Network]].<ref name=" nrioomr"/> The protests were organized because mountaintop removal permits were approved under EPA chief [[Lisa Jackson]] and the Obama administration despite Obama's campaign rhetoric opposing the mining practice.<ref name=" nrioomr"/>
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| − | ===October 19, 2009: 7 Arrested at WV Governor's Office===
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| − | Residents of Coal River Valley and their allies delivered a letter to West Virginia Governor [[Joe Manchin]], urging him to declare a state of emergency and rescind permits for the [[Bee Tree Mine|Bee Tree mountaintop removal mine]] on Coal River.<ref name="crvrdsoe">[http://mountainjustice.org/actions/2009-10-19/index.php Coal River Valley residents declare state of emergency, meet with Governor Joe Manchin,] Mountain Justice website, accessed August 6, 2010.</ref> The letter was signed by thirteen residents and accompanied by nine personal statements, a cross-section image of the neighboring Brushy Fork [[coal sludge|sludge impoundment]] and underground mines below, and an aerial image of the impoundment.<ref name="crvrdsoe"/> Seven people sat in Manchin's antechamber and refused to leave at the office's closing time; the seven were arrested with misdemeanors for trespassing and obstruction.<ref name="crvrdsoe"/>
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| − | ===October 27, 2009: KY MJ protests University of KY alliance with Coal===
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| − | Kentucky Mountain Justice organizers hung a banner at the [http://www.uky.edu/ University of Kentucky] in Lexington in protest of a decision to name a campus building the "Wildcat Coal Lodge."<ref name="kmjspaua">[http://mountainjustice.org/actions/2009-10-27/index.php Kentucky Mountain Justice speaks out against UK alliance with coal,] Mountain Justice website, accessed August 6, 2010.</ref> UK accepted a $7 million donation from Joe Craft of [http://www.arlp.com/ Alliance Coal] and friends to build a basketball players dormitory, a donation made with the stipulation that the word "coal" be included in the dorm's name.<ref name="kmjspaua"/> The banner read "U. of Koal? Or U. of Kentucky?" <ref name="kmjspaua"/>
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| − | Despite opposition from faculty, basketball players and fans, environmentalists, and the general student population, the Board of Trustees approved the dorm name in a 16-3 vote at their annual meeting in October 2009.<ref name="jbukwcl">Jeff Biggers, [http://www.grist.org/article/kentucky-straight-takes-on-big-coal "University of Kentucky dorm renamed Wildcat Coal Lodge despite student protests",] Grist, October 29, 2009.</ref><ref>Robynn Pease, [http://www.uky.edu/HR/WorkLife/BOTstaffrepmessage_1109.html Board of Trustees staff representative message – November Update,] University of Kentucky website, accessed August 6, 2010.</ref> Among the concerns about "coal" in the name is the issue that it conflicts with UK's pledge to transition to renewable energy and that the building is LEED-certified.<ref name="jbukwcl"/> The new building replaced a dorm named for UK basketball legend [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_B._Hall Joe B. Hall].<ref name="jbukwcl"/> A letter from an opposing Board of Trustee member to UK faculty can be found [http://www.uky.edu/HR/WorkLife/BOTstaffrepmessage_1109.html here].
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| − | ===October 22, 2009: Lockdown on WV MTR mine===
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| − | Four Climate Ground Zero and Mountain Justice activists chained themselves to each other and blocked a road on a mountaintop removal mine in Kanawha County, WV.<ref name="eakcsj">[ http://climategroundzero.net/2009/10/kanawha-bail/ "8 arrested on Kanawha Co. strip job, $16,000 cash-only bail",] October 22, 2009.</ref> The protesters were joined by four people who provided them with support; all eight were arrested.<ref name="eakcsj"/> Bail was set at $2,000 each (totaling $16,000) with no 10% bond option and was ordered to be paid in cash only.<ref name="eakcsj"/>
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| − | ===January 21-29, 2010: Tree Sits Stops Blasting on Coal River Mountain===
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| − | For nine days, a three person tree-sit stopped blasting on Coal River Mountain, where Massey Energy has active mine operations.<ref name="tshbcrm">[http://climategroundzero.net/2010/01/treesit/ "Tree sit halts the blasting on Coal River Mountain",] Climate Ground Zero website, January 21, 2010.</ref> The occupation was strategically placed next to the spot where Massey was blasting for a road for the Bee Tree mine.<ref name="tshbcrm"/> Massey employees responded with constant harassment including air horns, bright lights throughout the night, and violent threats.<ref name="cgzmwgm">[http://climategroundzero.net/2010/01/climate-ground-zero-meets-with-governor-manchin/ "Climate Ground Zero meets with Governor Manchin",] Climate Ground Zero website, January 28, 2010.</ref> Governor Joe Manchin called for an end to the violence but did not take any steps to intervene.<ref name="cgzmwgm"/> One tree-sitter came down on the fourth day.<ref name="cgzmwgm"/> On the fifth day, police arrested someone who was attempting to deliver aid bags to the tree-sitters.<ref name="mahts>[http://climategroundzero.net/2010/01/man-arrested-helping-tree-sit-abuse-of-sitters-continues/ "Man arrested helping tree sit, abuse of sitters continues",] Climate Ground Zero website, January 26, 2010.</ref> The remaining two tree-sitters decided to descend because of cold temperatures.<ref>[http://climategroundzero.net/2010/01/nine-day-tree-sit-ends-sitters-vow-not-over-until-blasting-stops/ "Nine-day tree sit ends, sitters vow not over until blasting stops",] Climate Ground Zero website, January 29, 2010.</ref>
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| − | ===May 18, 2010: Protest at Massey Shareholders Meeting===
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| − | Environmental groups (including Mountain Justice, Coal River Mountain Watch, the [[Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition]], and Rising Tide) teamed up with labor unions to protest Massey Energy at the company's annual shareholder meeting in Richmond, VA.<ref name="mjmasm">[http://climategroundzero.net/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?flavor=archive;list=media;id=20100518083403 "Mountain Justice protests Massey annual shareholders meeting",] Climate Ground Zero website, May 18, 2010.</ref><ref name="dpmsm">Dena Potter, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/18/massey-shareholder-meetin_n_580146.html "Massey shareholder meeting: protesters gather, but no change in leadership",] "Huffington Post", May 18, 2010.</ref>The event was six weeks after an [[Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster|explosion at Massey's Upper Big Branch mine]] killed 29 miners, the worst coal mining disaster in the U.S. in forty years.<ref name="dpmsm"/> Protesters called for [[Don Blankenship]] to resign and be prosecuted by the law for the accident and many other safety and environmental violations Massey has committed under Blankenship.<ref name="mjmasm"/><ref name="dpmsm"/> Some protesters wore orange jumpsuits.<ref name="dpmsm"/> At least two were arrested after hanging a banner inside the Jefferson Hotel, where the meeting took place, and were cited for trespassing.<ref name="dpmsm"/>
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| − | ===June 8, 2010: PNC Bank protested for MTR financing===
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| − | In Lexington, KY, Mountain Justice participants and coalfield residents joined local residents to protest a [[PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.|PNC Bank]] branch because of the bank's role in financing mountaintop removal mining.<ref name=lkypnc>[http://climategroundzero.net/category/press-releases/ "Lexington protest shames PNC's mountaintop removal financing",] Climate Ground Zero website, June 7, 2010.</ref> The protest included a floating banner and a clown street-theater troupe.<ref name="lkypnc"/> PNC bank has been the number one financier of MTR mining since January 2008.<ref name="lkypnc"/> As PNC was the recipient of government bailout money, protesters highlighted the connection between taxpayer money and money invested in MTR.<ref name="lkypnc"/>
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| − | ===July 14, 2010: Lockdown on Coal River Mountain===
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| − | Two protesters with Mountain Justice and Climate Ground Zero locked themselves to mining equipment on the Massey Energy's Bee Tree mine, close to the Brushy Fork sludge impoundment.<ref name="jftbt">[http://climategroundzero.net/2010/07/activists-strip-mining-machine-on-coal-river-mountain/#more-4403 "Activists stop strip mining machine on Coal River Mountain",] Climate Ground Zero website, July 14, 2010.</ref> They were joined by two people filling supportive roles.<ref name="jftbt"/> All four were arrested and held on $12,000 bail altogether.<ref>[http://climategroundzero.net/2010/07/all-highwall-miner-protesters-released/ "All highwall miner protesters released",] Climate Ground Zero website, July 24, 2010.</ref>
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| − | ==Resources==
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| − | ===References===
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| − | <references/>
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| − | | |
| − | ===Related SourceWatch Articles===
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| − | *[[Capitol Power Plant]]
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| − | *[[Citizen groups working on coal issues]]
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| − | *[[Global warming]]
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| − | *[[Mountaintop removal]]
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| − | *[[Nonviolent direct actions against coal]]
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| − | === External links ===
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| − | | |
| − | [[Category:Citizen groups working on coal issues]]
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