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East Coast Mountain Top Removal/G8 Solidarity protest
Overview of actions from Richmond IMC
* 09 Jul 2005
Today hundreds of activists converged on Richmond, Virginia in solidarity with Appalachian residents fighting for self determination and community control and in solidarity with G8 protesters in Scotland and around the world.
The primary focus of the actions was the issue of Mountain Top Removal, but connections were made to the global struggle against global capitalism’s dominance over every sector of people’s lives.
Around noon, the crowd in Monroe Park was nearly 300 people strong. The scene was festive, lively and diverse. Residents of Coal River Valley addressed the gathering, sharing their experience living under the shadow of Massey's aggressive mining operations. The sound of drums whistles and bells filled the air.
At last minute, Governor Warner of Virginia asked West Virginia residents and MTR activists to a meeting. 6-7 are met with him, and 4-5 stayed at the rally.
The crowd marched down Franklin Street, filling the air with voices and drums, and handing out informational flyers to onlookers. Police presence was low, but they did surround the march and prevent interaction with traffic. The protestors arrived at Massey’s headquarters, and banners were used to block off an area and allow a group of protestors to lock down in front of the building and a group of supporters to link arms in front of them.
Massey Corp. sent all of the nonessential employees home early. Nine protesters, with the "Stop Destroying Us" banner, moved to the Main Street parking garage, which Massey employees had been exiting from.
At 3 o’clock, the police informed the protesters that their permit had expired. The crowd decided with almost universal consensus that they wanted to stay. Protestors prepared for a possible police confrontation by blockading the area with reinforced banners, bicycles, and police blockades that were street. They remained until 4 when after confrontation and negotiations the people blockading the doors the Massey headquarters and the exit to the parking garage made a tactical decision to leave and march back to the park.
People arrived back at the park cheering, waving flags, and banging drums. They filtered through the park and back to the Pace center, ready for food, water and rest. The Mountain Justice Summer campaign lives on in the mountains and hills of Appalachia, as well as the hearts of all those who participated today. A resounding voice was heard today; we want control of our homes, our communities and our resources!
http://richmond.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10772/index.php
more info: http://richmond.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10769/index.php
Today hundreds of activists converged on Richmond, Virginia in solidarity with Appalachian residents fighting for self determination and community control and in solidarity with G8 protesters in Scotland and around the world.
The primary focus of the actions was the issue of Mountain Top Removal, but connections were made to the global struggle against global capitalism’s dominance over every sector of people’s lives.
Around noon, the crowd in Monroe Park was nearly 300 people strong. The scene was festive, lively and diverse. Residents of Coal River Valley addressed the gathering, sharing their experience living under the shadow of Massey's aggressive mining operations. The sound of drums whistles and bells filled the air.
At last minute, Governor Warner of Virginia asked West Virginia residents and MTR activists to a meeting. 6-7 are met with him, and 4-5 stayed at the rally.
The crowd marched down Franklin Street, filling the air with voices and drums, and handing out informational flyers to onlookers. Police presence was low, but they did surround the march and prevent interaction with traffic. The protestors arrived at Massey’s headquarters, and banners were used to block off an area and allow a group of protestors to lock down in front of the building and a group of supporters to link arms in front of them.
Massey Corp. sent all of the nonessential employees home early. Nine protesters, with the "Stop Destroying Us" banner, moved to the Main Street parking garage, which Massey employees had been exiting from.
At 3 o’clock, the police informed the protesters that their permit had expired. The crowd decided with almost universal consensus that they wanted to stay. Protestors prepared for a possible police confrontation by blockading the area with reinforced banners, bicycles, and police blockades that were street. They remained until 4 when after confrontation and negotiations the people blockading the doors the Massey headquarters and the exit to the parking garage made a tactical decision to leave and march back to the park.
People arrived back at the park cheering, waving flags, and banging drums. They filtered through the park and back to the Pace center, ready for food, water and rest. The Mountain Justice Summer campaign lives on in the mountains and hills of Appalachia, as well as the hearts of all those who participated today. A resounding voice was heard today; we want control of our homes, our communities and our resources!
http://richmond.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10772/index.php
more info: http://richmond.indymedia.org/newswire/display/10769/index.php
For more information:
http://richmond.indymedia.org/
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to read more on mountain top removal and the growing movement to stop it please check out:
http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org
and
http://www.ohvec.org
http://www.mountainjusticesummer.org
and
http://www.ohvec.org
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