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Herb Elkins of Coal RIver and Hannah Turman of Liberty, WV were arrested at Massey Energy Headquarters in Richmond, VA. Concerned parents and other citizens of Coal River Valley, West Virginia, with support from Mountain Justice Summer participants, today 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. “I promised my son that I would not send him back to that school,” said Herb Elkins of Coal River Valley, who was one of the two arrested. “His health and peace of mind are too important. No child should have to attend class in a climate of fear." Previous rallies at Massey’s Goals Coal Company operations adjacent to Marsh Fork Elementary School in Sundial, W. Va., led to 18 arrests. The citizens are demanding that Massey shut down its preparation plant, coal silo, 1,849-acre mountaintop removal mine site and 2.8 billion-gallon coal sludge dam—a toxic waste storage facility—at the kindergarten through fifth-grade school. The dam is constructed of earth and coal refuse. Its base is 400 yards upstream from school grounds. Hannah Thurman of Liberty, W.Va., was also arrested. “We’re simply asking that Massey treat these children and the Coal River community with respect,” said Thurman. “For the sake of the kids, Massey needs to do the right thing. Handcuffed, Thurman and Elkins shouted, “Save the kids at Marsh Fork Elementary!” as they were loaded into the police vehicle. It breaks my heart to send my granddaughter to that school,” said Ed Wiley of Coal River Valley. “Coal dust and chemicals on the playground and in the air system cannot be good for kids. These are their formative years; they shouldn’t be breathing coal dust.” The coal silo stores powdered coal and loads rail cars 150 feet from school grounds. After loading, the operation sprays a binding agent over the coal. Other demands are that Marsh Fork Elementary School be cleaned up or that a safe, new school be built in the local community; that Massey withdraw its application for a second coal loading silo behind the school; that Massey stop blasting near residents’ homes; and that Massey shut down its surface mine sites and invest in true sustainable energy. 16 Arrested in Peaceful Protest at Goals Processing Visit Mountain Justice Summer for more info.
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©2005 Coal River Mountain Watch
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