Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Visit Kentucky Rising on Facebook
Please visit the Official Kentucky Rising Facebook Page. We would love it if you would "like" us!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Environmental Writer & Activist Rick Bass Endorses Kentucky Rising Protest
"A country in which a patriot like Wendell Berry must step outside the law is a nation in uprising indeed. He is not the canary in the coal mine, the canaries have all died. He is the bald eagle in the coal mine. Our country is burning and his love for it--and for us--has no bounds. What an amazing American he is, to believe that words and actions still matter, and that we might yet all escape our corporate and political captors, and cool the inferno of our hastening destruction. It is a hastening destruction—a delamination—that we can all sense and can see the tips of, now, but which—unless we heed the leadership of men and women like Berry—our children will have to inhabit fully."
Fourteen Protesters Emerge Victorious from Kentucky Governor’s Office Sit-In Protesting Mountaintop Removal Mining
Fourteen Protesters Emerge Victorious from Kentucky Governor’s Office Sit-In Protesting Mountaintop Removal Mining
Feb. 14, 2001
12:15 P.M.
FRANKFORT – Fourteen protesters emerged from their four-day occupation of the Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear’s office in protest of mountaintop removal mining before an exuberant crowd of over 1,000 people on the steps of the state Capitol.
In a statement delivered before the cheering throng of supporters, internationally-known writer Wendell Berry explained, “We came because the land, its forests, and its streams are being destroyed by the surface mining of coal, because the people are suffering intolerable harms to their homes, their health, and their communities.”
The protesters (who also included a retired coal miner, a nurse practitioner who treats miners, community organizers, a graduate student, and others) had been staying in the office since talks between them and Gov. Beshear came to a stalemate on Friday afternoon, when he finally agreed to meet with them after initially refusing to do so that morning. In the meeting, Gov. Beshear continued to express his steadfast support for both mountaintop removal and the coal industry.
The citizens found his position unacceptable, and refused to vacate his office. When they declined to leave, the governor instructed his security team to inform the protesters that they were welcome to stay “as long as they wanted.”
The sit-in, which the protesters dubbed Kentucky Rising, has attracted international attention, with messages of support coming in from Argentina and Germany. Leading environmental figures including Bill McKibben (350.org) and best-selling environmental writer Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) issued strong statements of support.
“People across America today…are electrified by what's going on in Frankfort,” McKibben said. ”It's about time that people said: 'No more business as usual, if that means leveling the mountains of southern Appalachia.'”
The citizens say they will hold Gov. Beshear, who is running for reelection this year, to a pledge he made this morning: to travel to eastern Kentucky within thirty days and personally inspect damage caused by mountaintop removal. “This is only the beginning. There’s no going back at the point. The pressure will continue.”
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Contact:
Jason Howard (Media Liaison) 606.224.1208
Silas House (Media Liaison) 606.344.0662
Lora Smith (Media Liaison) 606.524.4074
Naomi Klein Issues Support for Kentucky Rising Governor's Office Sit-In
"Wendell Berry has taught us all so much about the importance of knowing and cherishing our place in the world. How thrilling and fitting that he is now putting his body on the line to protest against the ultimate erasure of cherished places: mountaintop removal coal mining."
Environmental Writer Wes Jackson Joins Chorus in Support of Kentucky Rising Protest
"Hail to the citizens of Kentucky, forced to sleep on the floor in their state capital because the governor refused to honor their agenda of concerns about mountain top removal. One can bet they are from the margin from which change almost always comes. Unencumbered by greed and envy they know one big thing: the extractive economy featuring fossil fuels will end one day, either because enough citizens say it must or the earth’s limits will impose it. They know that if we fail in our citizenship, it won’t be pretty. They know that something will have gone out of us as a people if we fail to stop the forward stampede."
Press Release: National Environmental Writers Rally Around Wendell Berry in Kentucky Governor’s Office Sit-In
National Environmental Writers Rally Around Wendell Berry in Kentucky Governor’s Office Sit-In
Feb. 14, 2011
11:30 A.M.
FRANKFORT – The nation’s most acclaimed environment writers are rallying around Wendell Berry, whom they called “the dean of their profession,” in support of his four-day long sit-in protesting mountaintop removal mining that continues in the office of Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear.
In strong statements of support, writer and 350.org founder Bill McKibben, along with bestselling authors Michael Pollan and Terry Tempest Williams, expressed their solidarity with the group of fourteen protesters that also includes a retired coal miner, a nurse practitioner who treats miners, community organizers, a graduate student, and others.
“People across America today…are electrified by what's going on in Frankfort,” McKibben said. “It's about time that people said: 'No more business as usual, if that means leveling the mountains of southern Appalachia.' And it comes as no surprise that Wendell Berry is in the forefront, as he has been for an entire generation.”
Michael Pollan, author of the bestselling The Omnivore’s Dilemma, agreed: "All of us who care about the future of the planet stand in solidarity with Wendell Berry and his compatriots in Frankfort, Kentucky, where they are conducting a ‘sleep in’ to protest mountaintop removal.”
“I can think of no more appropriate action to be taking on Valentine's Day than what Wendell Berry and his fellow Kentuckians are doing: taking a stand from one's heart,” Terry Tempest Williams (The Open Space of Democracy) said. “Mountaintop removal is an act of aggression. Civil disobedience is an act of love. We are right there with them in solidarity and support.”
The sit-in, which the protesters dubbed Kentucky Rising, has attracted international attention, with messages of support coming in from Argentina and Germany. In a statement issued last night, they called on Gov. Beshear, who is running for reelection this year, to join with them in opposing mountaintop removal.
“It’s disappointing that Gov. Beshear is choosing to play election-year politics with the lives and livelihoods of eastern Kentuckians. We continue to call on him to engage in a sincere, public dialogue about ending mountaintop removal and beginning a program of economic renewal for our miners and mountain communities.”
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Contact:
Jason Howard (Media Liaison) 606.224.1208
Silas House (Media Liaison) 606.344.0662
Lora Smith (Media Liaison) 606.524.4074
A message from Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan has been tweeting and spreading the word about Kentucky Rising:
"All of us who care about the future of the planet stand in solidarity with Wendell Berry and his compatriots tonight in Frankfort, Kentucky, where they are conducting a "sleep in" to protest mountaintop removal.
"All of us who care about the future of the planet stand in solidarity with Wendell Berry and his compatriots tonight in Frankfort, Kentucky, where they are conducting a "sleep in" to protest mountaintop removal.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Bill McKibben Endorses Kentucky Rising in 350.org Blog Post
Frankfort, Kentucky, that is, the capitol of one of America's most coal-dominated states. And tonight, the site of something really wonderful. For 72 hours, a small group of demonstrators have been holding a 'sleepover' in the governor's office, refusing to leave until he agrees to take action to stop the absurd practice of 'mountaintop removal' coal-mining. (For those of you who haven't visited the southern Appalachian mountains of the United States, the name is accurate--miners simply blast away the tops of mountains to get at the coal beneath, leaving them flattened stubs).
Many of the people sleeping in the governor's office are residents of the mountainous coal country. But one of them comes from one of the state's farming belts, near the Ohio River. He's the great essayist, novelist, and poet Wendell Berry, in my opinion the finest writer at work in the English language, and surely the man who has done more than any other to spur the move towards local agriculture in the United States. You can read about the sit-in here and if you happen to be in the Kentucky area on Monday, people will be gathering at the Capitol for I Love Mountains day, and to salute the courageous crew inside. Wendell reports that he took a copy of The Tempest with him to read. "Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows" said Shakespeare in that great play--and so does the courageous stand for what's right and proper in this world. We send our great thanks to everyone who's taking part!
Bill McKibben Releases Statement of Support for Kentucky Rising Governor's Office Sit-In
Bill McKibben, environmental writer and founder of 350.org, just released this statement in support of the Kentucky Rising Governor's Office Sit-In:
"I've been hearing from people across America today who are electrified by what's going on in Frankfort. It's about time that people said: 'No more business as usual, if that means leveling the mountains of southern Appalachia.' And it comes as no surprise that Wendell Berry is in the forefront, as he has been for an entire generation. When the rest of the nation sees the person we most associate with Kentucky taking a stand like this, we pay attention."
"I've been hearing from people across America today who are electrified by what's going on in Frankfort. It's about time that people said: 'No more business as usual, if that means leveling the mountains of southern Appalachia.' And it comes as no surprise that Wendell Berry is in the forefront, as he has been for an entire generation. When the rest of the nation sees the person we most associate with Kentucky taking a stand like this, we pay attention."
Press Release: Fourteen Protesters Occupy Kentucky State Capitol for Third Night
Fourteen Protesters Occupy Kentucky State Capitol for Third Night
Feb. 13, 2011
7:30 PM
FRANKFORT – Fourteen protesters remain in the Governor’s Office of the Kentucky State Capitol on the third night of a sit-in that began Friday morning.
The group, known as Kentucky Rising, is there to demand that Gov. Steve Beshear (D) end his support of mountaintop removal, a destructive form of surface mining that has buried over 2,000 miles of Appalachian streams. They also insist that he withdraw from a lawsuit he filed against the Environmental Protection Agency in an alliance with the Kentucky Coal Association.
Beshear is up for reelection in November.
In a joint statement, the citizens said that they find it unacceptable for an elected official to sue a federal agency with taxpayer dollars on behalf of a multi-billion dollar industry that is responsible for poisoning the land, water, and people of Appalachia.
“It’s disappointing that Gov. Beshear is choosing to play election-year politics with the lives and livelihoods of eastern Kentuckians,” the group said in a joint statement. “Political courage is rare nowadays, and sadly appears to be absent from our Governor’s Mansion. We continue to call on him to engage in a sincere, public dialogue about ending mountaintop removal and beginning a program of economic renewal for our miners and mountain communities.”
The protesters have been staying in the office since talks between them and the governor came to a stalemate on Friday afternoon, when Gov. Beshear finally agreed to meet with them after initially refusing to do so that morning. After repeated requests from group members, he pledged to travel to eastern Kentucky and inspect damage caused by mountaintop removal mining. Despite this, Gov. Beshear continued to express his steadfast support for both mountaintop removal and the coal industry.
The citizens found his position unacceptable, and refused to vacate his office. When they declined to leave, the governor instructed his security team to inform the protesters that they were welcome to stay “as long as they wanted.”
One of the protesters is internationally acclaimed author Wendell Berry. Others include a retired coal miner, a nurse practitioner who treats miners, community organizers, a graduate student, and others.
The citizens say they have treated the governor’s office with the utmost respect and have been overwhelmed with support, gifts, and well wishes from around the world.
A large anti-mountaintop removal rally, with an expected attendance of at least a thousand people, is planned for Monday at noon on the Capitol steps.
###
Contact:
Jason Howard (Media Liaison) 606.224.1208
Silas House (Media Liaison) 606.344.0662
Lora Smith (Media Liaison) 606.524.4074
Lisa Abbott (Inside the Governor’s Office) 859.200.5159
Chad Berry (Inside the Governor’s Office) 859.779.1594
Feb. 13, 2011
7:30 PM
FRANKFORT – Fourteen protesters remain in the Governor’s Office of the Kentucky State Capitol on the third night of a sit-in that began Friday morning.
The group, known as Kentucky Rising, is there to demand that Gov. Steve Beshear (D) end his support of mountaintop removal, a destructive form of surface mining that has buried over 2,000 miles of Appalachian streams. They also insist that he withdraw from a lawsuit he filed against the Environmental Protection Agency in an alliance with the Kentucky Coal Association.
Beshear is up for reelection in November.
In a joint statement, the citizens said that they find it unacceptable for an elected official to sue a federal agency with taxpayer dollars on behalf of a multi-billion dollar industry that is responsible for poisoning the land, water, and people of Appalachia.
“It’s disappointing that Gov. Beshear is choosing to play election-year politics with the lives and livelihoods of eastern Kentuckians,” the group said in a joint statement. “Political courage is rare nowadays, and sadly appears to be absent from our Governor’s Mansion. We continue to call on him to engage in a sincere, public dialogue about ending mountaintop removal and beginning a program of economic renewal for our miners and mountain communities.”
The protesters have been staying in the office since talks between them and the governor came to a stalemate on Friday afternoon, when Gov. Beshear finally agreed to meet with them after initially refusing to do so that morning. After repeated requests from group members, he pledged to travel to eastern Kentucky and inspect damage caused by mountaintop removal mining. Despite this, Gov. Beshear continued to express his steadfast support for both mountaintop removal and the coal industry.
The citizens found his position unacceptable, and refused to vacate his office. When they declined to leave, the governor instructed his security team to inform the protesters that they were welcome to stay “as long as they wanted.”
One of the protesters is internationally acclaimed author Wendell Berry. Others include a retired coal miner, a nurse practitioner who treats miners, community organizers, a graduate student, and others.
The citizens say they have treated the governor’s office with the utmost respect and have been overwhelmed with support, gifts, and well wishes from around the world.
A large anti-mountaintop removal rally, with an expected attendance of at least a thousand people, is planned for Monday at noon on the Capitol steps.
###
Contact:
Jason Howard (Media Liaison) 606.224.1208
Silas House (Media Liaison) 606.344.0662
Lora Smith (Media Liaison) 606.524.4074
Lisa Abbott (Inside the Governor’s Office) 859.200.5159
Chad Berry (Inside the Governor’s Office) 859.779.1594
UPDATE 150 Gather at Capitol Vigil in Support of Kentucky Rising Governor's Office Sit-In
FRANKFORT-About 150 people have gathered outside the Kentucky State Capitol in an impromptu rally to show their support for a group of 14 Kentuckians who have been staging a sit-in in the Governor's Office since Friday morning in an effort to bring attention to the issue of mountaintop removal coal-mining.
The concerned citizens decided they wanted to show the group inside their support after hearing of the protest Friday evening. Although they couldn't join the vigil of solidarity taking place outside of the Capitol building, the protesters remained inside and managed to show their appreciation by holding up handwritten signs and fashioning their hands into heart-shapes. Some of the protesters, known as Kentucky Rising, stood on chairs so they could see outside.
Some who attended the vigil are supporters of the Kentucky Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, and say they wanted to show their solidarity with "folks from the mountains." They brought a home-cooked Mexican meal and led the crowd in chanting "Si Se Puede" ("Yes We Can"). There were also several Buddhist monks present in the crowd.
Another rally, called I Love Mountains Day, is planned for Monday, February 14 and will begin shortly after noon on the front steps of the Capitol. The event has been planned for over a year and is not involved with the Kentucky Rising event, but is in full support of the protesters. The rally will feature such speakers as Congressman John Yarmuth (D) and coalfield residents giving their testimonies about their experiences with mountaintop removal.
Photo attached. Caption: Rick Handshoe of Floyd County, Kentucky stands on a chair inside the State Capitol to display his love for the supporters who have gathered outside to offer support for the protesters involved in the sit-in. Credit: Colette Henderson.
Contact:
Jason Howard (media liaison) 606.224.1208
Lisa Abbott (inside the Capitol) 859.200.5159
Silas House (media liaison) 606.344.0662
Lora Smith (media liaison) 606.524.4074
Chad Berry (inside the Capitol) 859.779.1594
Exclusive Photos from Outside the Capitol at Solidarity Rally
They couldn't join the solidarity event outside the Capitol building, but Kentucky Rising participants found a way to show their love for the support....
Photos courtesy of Colette Henderson.
If you are a member of the press and would like a hi-res copy of these photos please email Lora Smith.
Solidarity From a Pastor in Georgia
In a sermon delivered this Sunday morning, Jordan Thrasher, from Bold Springs UMC in Carnesville, Georgia, stood in solidarity with the Kentucky Rising protests:
"We have lost touch with the physical. We have numbed ourselves to violence and loss because we see it all the time on TV. We forget how things are real and tangible. We lose our perspective because we have distanced ourselves.
A perfect example of this is in how get power to our homes. It has to come from somewhere, and we need to start paying attention to where it comes from. Two of my favorite authors are camped out in the governor's office in Kentucky right now with other protesters to get him to stop mountaintop removal mining in their state. Mountaintop removal destroys nature, communities, and ecosystems, poisoning the land, but as long as the people get their power…and coal companies make money…who cares? Paul is saying in Corinthians: We should because God does..."
"We have lost touch with the physical. We have numbed ourselves to violence and loss because we see it all the time on TV. We forget how things are real and tangible. We lose our perspective because we have distanced ourselves.
A perfect example of this is in how get power to our homes. It has to come from somewhere, and we need to start paying attention to where it comes from. Two of my favorite authors are camped out in the governor's office in Kentucky right now with other protesters to get him to stop mountaintop removal mining in their state. Mountaintop removal destroys nature, communities, and ecosystems, poisoning the land, but as long as the people get their power…and coal companies make money…who cares? Paul is saying in Corinthians: We should because God does..."
Statement from the Protesters
We continue to be amazed and gratified by the outpouring of support, particularly food, that has come to us. We feel your solidarity. But at the moment, we have more than we can consume.
The best thing to do at this point is to join us Monday for I Love Mountains Day.
The food we don't use is being donated to shelters in the area.
Thank you.
The best thing to do at this point is to join us Monday for I Love Mountains Day.
The food we don't use is being donated to shelters in the area.
Thank you.
UPDATE Protesters Begin Third Day in State Capitol Sit-In
FRANKFORT – Fourteen protestors, including internationally-known writer Wendell Berry, remain in the office of the Kentucky state governor for the third consecutive day. The protesters say they want Gov. Steve Beshear to engage in a serious conversation about mountaintop removal and a sustainable economy for Kentucky’s miners and mountain communities.
“Our purpose is to protect our land and water. And we most certainly bear no ill will against those who work in mines,” Berry says.
The protesters are staying in the state Capitol at the governor’s invitation. He extended the offer for them to remain in his office after they said they would not leave until he engaged in a “real conversation” about the method of coal mining that has been widely criticized by environmentalists as the most destructive form of coal extraction.
The Environmental Protection Agency has recently stepped up its efforts to regulate MTR, which has led Gov. Beshear to join with the Kentucky Coal Association and file a lawsuit against the federal agency. In his State of the Commonwealth address he repeatedly said the EPA should “get off our backs.”
On Saturday the group extended an invitation for the Governor and the First Lady to join them but has received no reply.
The protesters have passed their time by discussing new alternatives for mountaintop removal, writing their stories and posting them to a blog they have created for the event at www.kentuckyrising.blogspot.com , playing card games, reading, and cleaning up the governor’s office.
Gifts from across the nation have been flooding the Capitol. A couple from Florida sent pizzas. A viewer of the blog's live stream heard that one protester hadn’t brought along his reading glasses, so they sent him a pair. Other gifts include blankets, pies, coffee, artwork, books, and various other items. They have received messages and phone calls from as far away as Argentina.
A large rally is planned on the Capitol’s steps at noon on Monday. The annual event, I Love Mountains Day, was planned at least a year before the group decided to visit the governor’s office.
All of the protesters are from Kentucky. Nine of them live in Appalachian Kentucky.
Those remaining in the governor’s office include Wendell Berry, 76, the acclaimed writer who has been a leader in environmental issues for the past fifty years; Beverly May, 52, a nurse practitioner who was the subject of Deep Down, a documentary about MTR that was shown on PBS; Mickey McCoy, 55, former educator and mayor from Martin County, where more than 300 million gallons of toxic sludge were released into the water supply in 2000; and Stanley Sturgill, 65, a retired underground coal miner and former MSHA inspector.
Also in the office are Lisa Abbott, 40, a community organizer and mother of two; Chad Berry, 47, a writer and historian; Teri Blanton, 54, a grandmother of three and one of the most outspoken opponents of MTR; Doug Doerrfeld, 60, a concerned citizen; Kevin Pentz, 38, a community organizer; Herb E. Smith, 58, a documentary filmmaker; Rick Handshoe, 50, a retired Kentucky State Police employee; John Hennen, 59, a history professor at Morehead State University; Martin Mudd, 28, a grad student at the University of Kentucky, and Tanya Turner, 24, a community organizer.
Some of the original protest group left to work on media. Two journalism students from the University of Kentucky, Brandon Goodwin, 20, and Matt Murray, 21, both reporters for the Kentucky Kernel, have remained in the capitol to cover the event from inside.
“I think we've started a conversation with the Governor that was civil and respectful and was returned in kind. But it was just a start,” says Bev May. “We've got a long way to go.”
###
Contact:
Lisa Abbott 859.200.5159 (inside the Governor’s Office)
Silas House 606.344.0662 (media liaison)
Jason Howard 606.224.1208 (media liaison)
Chad Berry 859.779.1594 (inside the Governor’s Office)
Lora Smith 606.524.4074 (media liaison)
“Our purpose is to protect our land and water. And we most certainly bear no ill will against those who work in mines,” Berry says.
The protesters are staying in the state Capitol at the governor’s invitation. He extended the offer for them to remain in his office after they said they would not leave until he engaged in a “real conversation” about the method of coal mining that has been widely criticized by environmentalists as the most destructive form of coal extraction.
The Environmental Protection Agency has recently stepped up its efforts to regulate MTR, which has led Gov. Beshear to join with the Kentucky Coal Association and file a lawsuit against the federal agency. In his State of the Commonwealth address he repeatedly said the EPA should “get off our backs.”
On Saturday the group extended an invitation for the Governor and the First Lady to join them but has received no reply.
The protesters have passed their time by discussing new alternatives for mountaintop removal, writing their stories and posting them to a blog they have created for the event at www.kentuckyrising.blogspot.com , playing card games, reading, and cleaning up the governor’s office.
Gifts from across the nation have been flooding the Capitol. A couple from Florida sent pizzas. A viewer of the blog's live stream heard that one protester hadn’t brought along his reading glasses, so they sent him a pair. Other gifts include blankets, pies, coffee, artwork, books, and various other items. They have received messages and phone calls from as far away as Argentina.
A large rally is planned on the Capitol’s steps at noon on Monday. The annual event, I Love Mountains Day, was planned at least a year before the group decided to visit the governor’s office.
All of the protesters are from Kentucky. Nine of them live in Appalachian Kentucky.
Those remaining in the governor’s office include Wendell Berry, 76, the acclaimed writer who has been a leader in environmental issues for the past fifty years; Beverly May, 52, a nurse practitioner who was the subject of Deep Down, a documentary about MTR that was shown on PBS; Mickey McCoy, 55, former educator and mayor from Martin County, where more than 300 million gallons of toxic sludge were released into the water supply in 2000; and Stanley Sturgill, 65, a retired underground coal miner and former MSHA inspector.
Also in the office are Lisa Abbott, 40, a community organizer and mother of two; Chad Berry, 47, a writer and historian; Teri Blanton, 54, a grandmother of three and one of the most outspoken opponents of MTR; Doug Doerrfeld, 60, a concerned citizen; Kevin Pentz, 38, a community organizer; Herb E. Smith, 58, a documentary filmmaker; Rick Handshoe, 50, a retired Kentucky State Police employee; John Hennen, 59, a history professor at Morehead State University; Martin Mudd, 28, a grad student at the University of Kentucky, and Tanya Turner, 24, a community organizer.
Some of the original protest group left to work on media. Two journalism students from the University of Kentucky, Brandon Goodwin, 20, and Matt Murray, 21, both reporters for the Kentucky Kernel, have remained in the capitol to cover the event from inside.
“I think we've started a conversation with the Governor that was civil and respectful and was returned in kind. But it was just a start,” says Bev May. “We've got a long way to go.”
###
Contact:
Lisa Abbott 859.200.5159 (inside the Governor’s Office)
Silas House 606.344.0662 (media liaison)
Jason Howard 606.224.1208 (media liaison)
Chad Berry 859.779.1594 (inside the Governor’s Office)
Lora Smith 606.524.4074 (media liaison)
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Two Sunday Events on Ustream with Kentucky Rising
On Sunday, February 13th the individuals involved with Kentucky Rising will host two special events on their live Ustream feed.
Live streaming video by Ustream
Please join us. If you would like to participate in the conversation, post your questions and thoughts as comments to this page and we will try to field them as we can.
Here is the schedule:
11:00AM EST: History of Unions and Organizing in Eastern Kentucky
Stanley Sturgill, Bev May and Herb E. Smith will have an open discussion of the history of UMWA and organizing in eastern Kentucky. This show is being broadcast from the sit-in at the Governor's office in Kentucky to protest mountaintop removal and strip mining.
1:00PM EST: Discussion of where the movement is today and where we need to go
This will be a discussion between Eastern Kentucky mountain residents Teri Blanton, Mickey McCoy, Rick Handshoe and Tanya Turner about the current movement to end mountaintop removal coal mining and where the movement needs to go in the future. This show is being broadcast from the sit-in at the Governor's office in Kentucky to protest mountaintop removal and strip mining.
Live streaming video by Ustream
Please join us. If you would like to participate in the conversation, post your questions and thoughts as comments to this page and we will try to field them as we can.
Here is the schedule:
11:00AM EST: History of Unions and Organizing in Eastern Kentucky
Stanley Sturgill, Bev May and Herb E. Smith will have an open discussion of the history of UMWA and organizing in eastern Kentucky. This show is being broadcast from the sit-in at the Governor's office in Kentucky to protest mountaintop removal and strip mining.
1:00PM EST: Discussion of where the movement is today and where we need to go
This will be a discussion between Eastern Kentucky mountain residents Teri Blanton, Mickey McCoy, Rick Handshoe and Tanya Turner about the current movement to end mountaintop removal coal mining and where the movement needs to go in the future. This show is being broadcast from the sit-in at the Governor's office in Kentucky to protest mountaintop removal and strip mining.
Update from inside the Capitol: Mickey McCoy
Mickey McCoy is a former mayor of Inez, Kentucky, and retired high school English teacher. He was born and raised in Inez.
"First, I've lobbied on the state and federal levels, I've written letters and op-ed pieces, and begged and pleaded in trying to convince representatives and others about the destruction of the land and the death of the people of Appalachia caused by mountaintop removal. Nonviolent civi disobedience is not the wrong thing to do--rather, it is the thing to do against wrong.
"I came to Frankfort with this group knowing that I would probably be arrested; however, the circumstances presented to us have turned out to be a greater opportunity to get our message across to a larger state and national audience. I'm proud to be a part of the "Sweet 16," and I look forward for it soon to become the "Sweet 16,000."
"First, I've lobbied on the state and federal levels, I've written letters and op-ed pieces, and begged and pleaded in trying to convince representatives and others about the destruction of the land and the death of the people of Appalachia caused by mountaintop removal. Nonviolent civi disobedience is not the wrong thing to do--rather, it is the thing to do against wrong.
"I came to Frankfort with this group knowing that I would probably be arrested; however, the circumstances presented to us have turned out to be a greater opportunity to get our message across to a larger state and national audience. I'm proud to be a part of the "Sweet 16," and I look forward for it soon to become the "Sweet 16,000."
Update from inside the Capitol: Wendell Berry
Wendell Berry is a native of Henry County, Kentucky, of the Port Royal community, where he still lives. In characteristic humility, he describes himself as a "marginal farmer" and a "marginal writer."
"This is a weekend that nobody involved with will finish thinking about soon. I think we were all delighted when we got the Governor's invitation to spend the time in his reception room--partly because we thought he'd put it over on us. The more I've thought about it the less sure I am that we haven't finally won the day. Because by being here as long as we're going to be and free to speak to anybody who wants to speak to us, we will make this conversation probably more public than we would have been able to do by going to jail. I think that we have won friends to our cause, we have been able to inform a lot of people who were not informed before, about the real gravity of the issues and the dilemmas that have brought us here."
"This is a weekend that nobody involved with will finish thinking about soon. I think we were all delighted when we got the Governor's invitation to spend the time in his reception room--partly because we thought he'd put it over on us. The more I've thought about it the less sure I am that we haven't finally won the day. Because by being here as long as we're going to be and free to speak to anybody who wants to speak to us, we will make this conversation probably more public than we would have been able to do by going to jail. I think that we have won friends to our cause, we have been able to inform a lot of people who were not informed before, about the real gravity of the issues and the dilemmas that have brought us here."
Update from inside the Capitol: Dr. John Hennen
John Hennen is a West Virginian by birth, aged 59. He is a professor of history at Morehead State University, and he is married to Sue Creasap, who is a professor of music at MSU. He has been a supporting member of KFTC for many years and was invited by Jerry Hardt on the second writers' tour in 2005. Until then, he had a working-class interest in coalfield life.
"Since I have lived in Kentucky, I have become more aware of the direct impact of the devastation unleashed on my students, their families, and their communities by what Erik Reece calls 'radical strip mining.' As I've become more aware of the extent and the injustice of this practice, I've been lucky to establish closer contacts with committed activists from Eastern Kentucky coalfields who've been working to abolish this mining practice.
So I'm here to stand in solidarity with my friends. Also from a personal standpoint, I try to impress upon my students that citizenship implies much more than voting on a regular or irregular basis. It requires that we as citizens in a representative democracy need to hold those with power to account. I think the record of the legislature in Kentucky and this governor and past governors has been one of failing to protect the health and well-being of Eastern Kentucky in particular and, by extension, the whole Commonwealth. And I believe actions like this are necessary, completely justifiable, and are basically patriotic acts that we need to embrace and support as true citizens."
"Since I have lived in Kentucky, I have become more aware of the direct impact of the devastation unleashed on my students, their families, and their communities by what Erik Reece calls 'radical strip mining.' As I've become more aware of the extent and the injustice of this practice, I've been lucky to establish closer contacts with committed activists from Eastern Kentucky coalfields who've been working to abolish this mining practice.
So I'm here to stand in solidarity with my friends. Also from a personal standpoint, I try to impress upon my students that citizenship implies much more than voting on a regular or irregular basis. It requires that we as citizens in a representative democracy need to hold those with power to account. I think the record of the legislature in Kentucky and this governor and past governors has been one of failing to protect the health and well-being of Eastern Kentucky in particular and, by extension, the whole Commonwealth. And I believe actions like this are necessary, completely justifiable, and are basically patriotic acts that we need to embrace and support as true citizens."
Update from inside the Capitol: Beverly May
Bev May lives on Wilson Creek in Floyd County, Kentucky, on property that has been in her family for five generations. She is a family nurse practitioner who cares for the uninsured and homeless. Her story can be seen in the award-winning film, Deep Down (deepdownfilm.org).
"I think that as with the civil disobedience that I participated in in Washington, D.C., in September, this has given me the renewed appreication and pride that I live in a democracy. I used to believe that the most important thing that I owned was my nursing license. And I now realize that the most important thing I own is FREE SPEECH. And isn't it wonderful that everyone has that? We just have to use that more often.
"I think we've communicated the urgency of the situation in Eastern Kentucky and put the issue of surface mining and its impact on the lives of all Kentuckians on the public agenda. I think we've started a conversation with the Governor that was civil and respectful and was returned in kind. But it was just a start. We've got a long way to go."
To speak with Bev, call 859-779-1594.
"I think that as with the civil disobedience that I participated in in Washington, D.C., in September, this has given me the renewed appreication and pride that I live in a democracy. I used to believe that the most important thing that I owned was my nursing license. And I now realize that the most important thing I own is FREE SPEECH. And isn't it wonderful that everyone has that? We just have to use that more often.
"I think we've communicated the urgency of the situation in Eastern Kentucky and put the issue of surface mining and its impact on the lives of all Kentuckians on the public agenda. I think we've started a conversation with the Governor that was civil and respectful and was returned in kind. But it was just a start. We've got a long way to go."
To speak with Bev, call 859-779-1594.
Update from inside the Capitol: Tanya Turner
Tanya Turner grew up in Bell County, Kentucky. She is 24 years old and comes from a long line of coal miners, haulers, and union men and women. Her dad worked for Kentucky Utilities and her mom raised her and her sisters as a single mom.
"I have multiple reasons to be here. I came inititally to support people I work with and organize with in Harlan County. But also as a young woman who has been a part of this movement for a few years, I want to live in Eastern Kentucky and raise a family here and homestead like my great grandmother did. If strip mining is allowed to happen many more years, I'm afraid that won't be possible. You can't live off the land and provide for yourself with tainted, toxic water.
"I think it's pretty important that this group represent a large age group and show the multiple generations of energy in the movement. I know that there are plenty of Eastern Kentuckians who want more for the place they identify with, and I think they are all here in spirit with me. We have a lot to learn from the older generation in terms of energy and knowledge and power in order to move this forward in order to see a victory."
"I have multiple reasons to be here. I came inititally to support people I work with and organize with in Harlan County. But also as a young woman who has been a part of this movement for a few years, I want to live in Eastern Kentucky and raise a family here and homestead like my great grandmother did. If strip mining is allowed to happen many more years, I'm afraid that won't be possible. You can't live off the land and provide for yourself with tainted, toxic water.
"I think it's pretty important that this group represent a large age group and show the multiple generations of energy in the movement. I know that there are plenty of Eastern Kentuckians who want more for the place they identify with, and I think they are all here in spirit with me. We have a lot to learn from the older generation in terms of energy and knowledge and power in order to move this forward in order to see a victory."
Update from inside the Capitol: Rick Handshoe
Rick Handshoe is a retired Kentucky State Police radio technician and lives in Floyd County.
"Well, I'm tired. I'm tired of meeting with these people. If they think that's all their job is, then that's why I'm here. I want to see action. I fought for five years to protect the stream rnniung through my property. I lost. After two years, it came back a little, but now it is completely dead. Nothing alive in the stream. The EPA has told me that in my lifetime, they don't think it will ever come back, and they don't know that it will EVER come back.
"My concern at this point is the health of my family and my neighbors. Do we need to leave? I don't want to find out ten years from now that I should have got my daughter out of there. Everybody affected by this stream and their children and familities could be in danger. This is drinking water for everybody, not just me. It needs to be brought to everybody's attention. This is just not an Eastern Kentucky problem. And people are not outsiders just because they live outside of Appalachia. They are affected by the water running outside my home.
"I spoke to everybody from the inspector to the commissioner to Governor Beshear last year. And I'm back again, asking for help once again. But it can be too late if this goes on for a few more years. Coal companies will not have to fight us, because all the coal will be gone. And our mountains too. And then our children and grandchildren will be left with trying to repair this, and I'm afraid of the health issues that will cripple this nation."
To speak with Rick Handshoe, call 859-779-1594.
"Well, I'm tired. I'm tired of meeting with these people. If they think that's all their job is, then that's why I'm here. I want to see action. I fought for five years to protect the stream rnniung through my property. I lost. After two years, it came back a little, but now it is completely dead. Nothing alive in the stream. The EPA has told me that in my lifetime, they don't think it will ever come back, and they don't know that it will EVER come back.
"My concern at this point is the health of my family and my neighbors. Do we need to leave? I don't want to find out ten years from now that I should have got my daughter out of there. Everybody affected by this stream and their children and familities could be in danger. This is drinking water for everybody, not just me. It needs to be brought to everybody's attention. This is just not an Eastern Kentucky problem. And people are not outsiders just because they live outside of Appalachia. They are affected by the water running outside my home.
"I spoke to everybody from the inspector to the commissioner to Governor Beshear last year. And I'm back again, asking for help once again. But it can be too late if this goes on for a few more years. Coal companies will not have to fight us, because all the coal will be gone. And our mountains too. And then our children and grandchildren will be left with trying to repair this, and I'm afraid of the health issues that will cripple this nation."
To speak with Rick Handshoe, call 859-779-1594.
Update from inside the Capitol: Martin Mudd
Martin Mudd is a graduate student in physics from the University of Kentucky. He grew up in Louisville. Here are some of his thoughts on this weekend:
"I feel like this a real step forward for true democratic participatory action in Kentucky. For too long, people have felt like their only recourse is to vote someone into office. We've seen that representatives don't always adequately convey our voice and our will. It's our duty and our right as citizens to use direct democracy to protect our people and our land. I think it takes courage to take the first step, but it also opens doors for other people to exercise their freedom. And I think that's something of what we've done here. I do really appreciate the Governor meeting with us and being so hospitable--he could have just as easily thrown us all in jail, and that's what we were preparing for. It shows that he too respects the right of citizens to at least redress their grievances with their government.
"I'm really honored to be here with people that I've gotten to know over the past few years in this movement. And it's a real milestone that we're taking this action together.
"I think the real challenge is going to be where do we go from here? And how do we do it? Kentucky is really rising up to say that we will no longer be ignored and we will no longer allow the destruction of our land and our people."
"I feel like this a real step forward for true democratic participatory action in Kentucky. For too long, people have felt like their only recourse is to vote someone into office. We've seen that representatives don't always adequately convey our voice and our will. It's our duty and our right as citizens to use direct democracy to protect our people and our land. I think it takes courage to take the first step, but it also opens doors for other people to exercise their freedom. And I think that's something of what we've done here. I do really appreciate the Governor meeting with us and being so hospitable--he could have just as easily thrown us all in jail, and that's what we were preparing for. It shows that he too respects the right of citizens to at least redress their grievances with their government.
"I'm really honored to be here with people that I've gotten to know over the past few years in this movement. And it's a real milestone that we're taking this action together.
"I think the real challenge is going to be where do we go from here? And how do we do it? Kentucky is really rising up to say that we will no longer be ignored and we will no longer allow the destruction of our land and our people."
Update from inside the Capitol: Herb E. Smith
Herb E. Smith is a filmmaker from Appalshop in Letcher County.
"I have a number of reasons to be here. Not the least of which is a longstanding relationship throughout the state with those who have been involved in strip-mining issues. For example, in 1972, 39 years ago, I was right in this very area to ask the then governor to address the problems with strip mining. So when you've been involved with something for 40 years, it kind of gets to be a habit. (Laughs) It's something that you care about.
"It hasn't all been lost during those 40 years. But it is true that we are facing a very diffcult-to-win set of circumstances. We know it's election year, and that always changes the equation when you're asking for redress.
"So far so good this weekend. I think people come together partly because they know that there are real consequences out there. Real people getting hurt. Real streams getting polluted. Real mountains being destroyed. Real communities being pulled apart by these strong forces. So of course, if you care about those things--and most people do--then you try to look hard at what's going on look inside yourself at the same time and ask, 'What can I do?'
"Another aspect of a weekend like this is about friendship. Everyone who's been here I've admired for a number of years and worked with. Wendell (Berry) and I have been involved in a lot of things. When he calls, you answer. Once you get here, part of your role is to be a part of the storytelling and the exchange of ideas that is really about the joy of being together and learning and having a series of good conversations with people who care about the same kind of issues. That's the way that people get bound together. And there's a kind of laughter and joy--not just hard-nosed issue-serious debate. People are learning from each other about each other's experiences, and it's pleasurable. We're a united group."
To speak with Herbie, call 859-779-1594.
"I have a number of reasons to be here. Not the least of which is a longstanding relationship throughout the state with those who have been involved in strip-mining issues. For example, in 1972, 39 years ago, I was right in this very area to ask the then governor to address the problems with strip mining. So when you've been involved with something for 40 years, it kind of gets to be a habit. (Laughs) It's something that you care about.
"It hasn't all been lost during those 40 years. But it is true that we are facing a very diffcult-to-win set of circumstances. We know it's election year, and that always changes the equation when you're asking for redress.
"So far so good this weekend. I think people come together partly because they know that there are real consequences out there. Real people getting hurt. Real streams getting polluted. Real mountains being destroyed. Real communities being pulled apart by these strong forces. So of course, if you care about those things--and most people do--then you try to look hard at what's going on look inside yourself at the same time and ask, 'What can I do?'
"Another aspect of a weekend like this is about friendship. Everyone who's been here I've admired for a number of years and worked with. Wendell (Berry) and I have been involved in a lot of things. When he calls, you answer. Once you get here, part of your role is to be a part of the storytelling and the exchange of ideas that is really about the joy of being together and learning and having a series of good conversations with people who care about the same kind of issues. That's the way that people get bound together. And there's a kind of laughter and joy--not just hard-nosed issue-serious debate. People are learning from each other about each other's experiences, and it's pleasurable. We're a united group."
To speak with Herbie, call 859-779-1594.
Update from inside the Capitol: Stanley Sturgill
Stanley Sturgill is a retired coal miner and federal coal mining inspector with 41 years of service to the industry. He and 13 others are inside the Kentucky Capitol rallying for change.
Here are some of his thoughts:
"I came to Frankfort on Friday to try to meet with the Governor; we had requested a meeting earlier. Of course the Governor had time restraints but eventually gave us a few minutes of his time. We gave him a few of our requests that we wanted to discuss with him, but the Governor disagreed with us on most of our requests. And then again, we didn't get to tell him everything that we wanted to discuss with him.
So, the Governor told us that he would be glad to meet with us at a later date, but it's really hard. We all live in so many far-off places here--I'm from Harlan County. It's hard for us to get our concerns and ourselves together at one particular time. So we just told the Governor that we would just wait and maybe talk to him again when he got time. He told us that he probably wouldn't have any more time Friday. So we told him we'd just wait on him, and he told us we could wait all weekend if we wanted to.
We spent our first night last night. I'm 65 years old, and never in my wildest dreams did I figure that I'd be sleeping on the floor of the Governor's office in the state of Kentucky. But that's just how important I believe this is. We've got a lot of concerns about our area. We're going to stay the weekend and try to get a message to the Governor and Mrs. Beshear and see if they want to drop by his office today or tomorrow and talk with us. I feel like that would be a great opportunity for all of us to get together--especially for the governor.
I have two big concerns: one is trying to stop MTR and his decision to sue the EPA. Second, I'm a strong miners' advocate. I'm retired, and I questioned the Governor about getting his support for MSHA's comment period about violations and getting some of these mines closed that don't follow the rules and regulations. He said he wasn't that aware of what was going on, so I'd like to talk more about this with him. There is a strong pattern of violations--and they're going to lead to more tragedies like Upper Big Branch. According to the 1997 act, the coal miner is our most precious resource."
To speak more with Stanley, call 859-779-1594.
Here are some of his thoughts:
"I came to Frankfort on Friday to try to meet with the Governor; we had requested a meeting earlier. Of course the Governor had time restraints but eventually gave us a few minutes of his time. We gave him a few of our requests that we wanted to discuss with him, but the Governor disagreed with us on most of our requests. And then again, we didn't get to tell him everything that we wanted to discuss with him.
So, the Governor told us that he would be glad to meet with us at a later date, but it's really hard. We all live in so many far-off places here--I'm from Harlan County. It's hard for us to get our concerns and ourselves together at one particular time. So we just told the Governor that we would just wait and maybe talk to him again when he got time. He told us that he probably wouldn't have any more time Friday. So we told him we'd just wait on him, and he told us we could wait all weekend if we wanted to.
We spent our first night last night. I'm 65 years old, and never in my wildest dreams did I figure that I'd be sleeping on the floor of the Governor's office in the state of Kentucky. But that's just how important I believe this is. We've got a lot of concerns about our area. We're going to stay the weekend and try to get a message to the Governor and Mrs. Beshear and see if they want to drop by his office today or tomorrow and talk with us. I feel like that would be a great opportunity for all of us to get together--especially for the governor.
I have two big concerns: one is trying to stop MTR and his decision to sue the EPA. Second, I'm a strong miners' advocate. I'm retired, and I questioned the Governor about getting his support for MSHA's comment period about violations and getting some of these mines closed that don't follow the rules and regulations. He said he wasn't that aware of what was going on, so I'd like to talk more about this with him. There is a strong pattern of violations--and they're going to lead to more tragedies like Upper Big Branch. According to the 1997 act, the coal miner is our most precious resource."
To speak more with Stanley, call 859-779-1594.
Interview with Teri Blanton
Teri is inside the Capitol with 13 others who are sticking it out until things change regarding the people, land, and water from Eastern Kentucky. Here are some of her thoughts:
"I think my biggest worry is that the Governor is protecting the wrong people. He's protecting the polluters and punishing the protectors--in this case, the EPA. The continued, intentional incompetence of the Division of Water is poisoning the people of our state. I think that's the message we want to send. Yesterday talking with the Governor and asking him to withdraw the lawsuit--what really bothered me is that the EPA figured out that by using accurate science one is able to determine proper conductivity levels of our streams. I'm glad we now have a Federal Government that is actually using science to make policy. If the FDA says a drug is safe and then six months later realize it's unsafe, we should pull the drug. The same thing has happened with the conductivity levels. The Governor should ask the Division of Water to follow the EPA's direction and enforce the Clean Water Act to its fullest."
Update from inside the Capitol
Hello, everyone:
Rick Handshoe is talking to a reporter on the phone in LA. Wendell Berry is reading a note from a person from Lexington who drove to Frankfort to give us all a card; it's addressed to "The Heroes of God's Mountains." We are all feeling a lot of hope and support. People have brought blankets and offered food, and some are coming to the Capitol tomorrow at 4:00 for a Show of Solidarity.
We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday at I LOVE MOUNTAINS and hope the Governor is using the weekend to affirm his support for the people, land, and water of Eastern Kentucky.
If you want to talk to us, call us at 859-200-5159.
Rick Handshoe is talking to a reporter on the phone in LA. Wendell Berry is reading a note from a person from Lexington who drove to Frankfort to give us all a card; it's addressed to "The Heroes of God's Mountains." We are all feeling a lot of hope and support. People have brought blankets and offered food, and some are coming to the Capitol tomorrow at 4:00 for a Show of Solidarity.
We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday at I LOVE MOUNTAINS and hope the Governor is using the weekend to affirm his support for the people, land, and water of Eastern Kentucky.
If you want to talk to us, call us at 859-200-5159.
A Statement from Wendell Berry, February 12, 2011, 10:58 a.m.
Statement from Wendell Berry, February 12, 2011, 10:58 a.m.
It is now Feb. 12. By now we expected to be either in jail or bailed out. Instead, by Gov. Beshear’s invitation, we are staying in his reception room in the Capitol. We have had a good night’s sleep and are feeling fine. The governor and his staff, the custodians and security staff of this building, all have treated us with hospitality and perfect kindness. We have spoken much of this and of our gratitude.
A little to our surprise, the Governor spoke with us at some length yesterday, and listened evidently with care as our people bore witness to the abuses they live with every day. He conceded graciously to two of our requests: that he would visit the home places of some of our people to see for himself what they are telling him about. The conversation otherwise was a standoff. We are far from agreement on most of our agenda of grievances. But we feel that the conversation was useful because it made our differences utterly clear. The Governor conceded our right to our opinions, but he believes that our accusations against the coal industry and its allies in state government are matters merely of opinion and personal feeling, without standing in fact, in law, or in principle. He believes, moreover, that surface mining can be, and apparently that it is, carried on without damage to the land, the people, and the water supply.
We, of course, respectfully disagree. We are relieved this morning by an accumulation of evidence that the first goal of our protest has been achieved. State government’s official silence on the grave issues of surface mining has been broken. Those issues have now entered the public conversation as they never have before. Obviously, we are determined to stop the abuses of the coal industry, and to that end we are determined also to keep this conversation going. We look forward to continuing our discussion with the Governor, and with anybody else who may want to talk with us.
We wish to say further—and this is extremely important to us—that our protest is against methods of mining that are abusive. We do not oppose mining per se. Our purpose is to protect our land and water. And we most certainly bear no ill will against those who work in mines.
A little to our surprise, the Governor spoke with us at some length yesterday, and listened evidently with care as our people bore witness to the abuses they live with every day. He conceded graciously to two of our requests: that he would visit the home places of some of our people to see for himself what they are telling him about. The conversation otherwise was a standoff. We are far from agreement on most of our agenda of grievances. But we feel that the conversation was useful because it made our differences utterly clear. The Governor conceded our right to our opinions, but he believes that our accusations against the coal industry and its allies in state government are matters merely of opinion and personal feeling, without standing in fact, in law, or in principle. He believes, moreover, that surface mining can be, and apparently that it is, carried on without damage to the land, the people, and the water supply.
We, of course, respectfully disagree. We are relieved this morning by an accumulation of evidence that the first goal of our protest has been achieved. State government’s official silence on the grave issues of surface mining has been broken. Those issues have now entered the public conversation as they never have before. Obviously, we are determined to stop the abuses of the coal industry, and to that end we are determined also to keep this conversation going. We look forward to continuing our discussion with the Governor, and with anybody else who may want to talk with us.
We wish to say further—and this is extremely important to us—that our protest is against methods of mining that are abusive. We do not oppose mining per se. Our purpose is to protect our land and water. And we most certainly bear no ill will against those who work in mines.
Press Release- February 12, 2011 12:00p.m.
FRANKFORT – Fourteen protestors remain in the office of the Kentucky state governor this weekend in an unprecedented and historic effort to bring attention to mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining. Gov. Steve Beshear invited the protesters to stay after they said they would not leave his office until they were either physically removed or until he reconsidered his position on MTR. The group are now extending an invitation to the Governor and the First Lady to join them and continue the conversation.
All of the protesters are from Kentucky. Those remaining in the governor’s office include Wendell Berry, 76, the acclaimed writer who has been a leader in environmental issues for the past fifty years; Beverly May, 52, a nurse practitioner who was the subject of Deep Down, a documentary about MTR that was shown on PBS; Mickey McCoy, 55, former educator and mayor from Martin County, where more than 300 million gallons of toxic sludge were released into the water supply in 2001; and Stanley Sturgill, 65, a former underground coal miner and former MSHA inspector.
Also in the office are Lisa Abbott, 40, a community organizer and mother of two; Chad Berry, 47, a writer and historian; Teri Blanton, 54, a grandmother of three; Doug Doerrfeld, 60, Kevin Pentz, 38, a community organizer; Herb E. Smith, 58, a documentary filmmaker; Rick Handshoe, 50, a retired Kentucky State Police employee; John Hennen, 59, a history professor at Morehead State University; and Martin Mudd, 28, a grad student at the University of Kentucky, and Tanya Turner, 24, a community organizer.
Two of the protesters, writers Silas House and Jason Howard, who had been acting as media liaisons, left the capitol late last night when it became too difficult to communicate with media from within the office.
“We call upon Gov. Beshear to lead by ending mountaintop removal, by beginning a sincere public dialogue about creating sustainable jobs for our hard-working miners, by putting the vital interests of ordinary Kentuckians above the special interests of an abusive industry,” the group said in a joint statement.
All of those remaining spent the night sleeping on the floor. A donation of pillows managed to get into the Capitol before the doors were locked at 4:30 on Friday afternoon.
This is the first sit-in of its kind in the state’s history.
People across the nation have been sending support to the group via the Internet. A couple from Florida sent the group six pizzas, which the Kentucky State Police guarding the capitol allowed to be delivered. Gifts—including artwork and coffee—have also begun to arrive at the capitol. The group shared their pizza with Kentucky State Police officers and the late-night custodial staff.
MTR is a controversial form of coal mining that has gained more attention over the last several years. The EPA has recently started to crack down on permits for MTR, which led Kentucky Gov. Beshear to recently tell the EPA to “get off our backs” in his State of the Commonwealth address earlier this month. Beshear has filed a lawsuit against the EPA.
The group has been incorrectly identified as being “anti-coal” but say they are there to protest MTR. The group is an independent coalition of citizens—most of them from the coalfields—and do not represent any particular organization.
An unrelated MTR protest that had already been planned is being staged on the capitol steps on Monday at noon. The annual event, I Love Mountains Day, will include a mile-long march and a rally featuring Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-D). Previous speakers at the event include actress Ashley Judd and country music singer Kathy Mattea.
Gov. Beshear met with the group for about twenty minutes and declared that he would continue his lawsuit against the EPA and made no commitments to do anything about MTR. The governor did, however, agree to visit Eastern Kentucky at an undetermined time. The protestors remain committed to holding him to this promise and are extending an invitation to the governor and the first lady to join them in the office.
###
All of the protesters are from Kentucky. Those remaining in the governor’s office include Wendell Berry, 76, the acclaimed writer who has been a leader in environmental issues for the past fifty years; Beverly May, 52, a nurse practitioner who was the subject of Deep Down, a documentary about MTR that was shown on PBS; Mickey McCoy, 55, former educator and mayor from Martin County, where more than 300 million gallons of toxic sludge were released into the water supply in 2001; and Stanley Sturgill, 65, a former underground coal miner and former MSHA inspector.
Also in the office are Lisa Abbott, 40, a community organizer and mother of two; Chad Berry, 47, a writer and historian; Teri Blanton, 54, a grandmother of three; Doug Doerrfeld, 60, Kevin Pentz, 38, a community organizer; Herb E. Smith, 58, a documentary filmmaker; Rick Handshoe, 50, a retired Kentucky State Police employee; John Hennen, 59, a history professor at Morehead State University; and Martin Mudd, 28, a grad student at the University of Kentucky, and Tanya Turner, 24, a community organizer.
Two of the protesters, writers Silas House and Jason Howard, who had been acting as media liaisons, left the capitol late last night when it became too difficult to communicate with media from within the office.
“We call upon Gov. Beshear to lead by ending mountaintop removal, by beginning a sincere public dialogue about creating sustainable jobs for our hard-working miners, by putting the vital interests of ordinary Kentuckians above the special interests of an abusive industry,” the group said in a joint statement.
All of those remaining spent the night sleeping on the floor. A donation of pillows managed to get into the Capitol before the doors were locked at 4:30 on Friday afternoon.
This is the first sit-in of its kind in the state’s history.
People across the nation have been sending support to the group via the Internet. A couple from Florida sent the group six pizzas, which the Kentucky State Police guarding the capitol allowed to be delivered. Gifts—including artwork and coffee—have also begun to arrive at the capitol. The group shared their pizza with Kentucky State Police officers and the late-night custodial staff.
MTR is a controversial form of coal mining that has gained more attention over the last several years. The EPA has recently started to crack down on permits for MTR, which led Kentucky Gov. Beshear to recently tell the EPA to “get off our backs” in his State of the Commonwealth address earlier this month. Beshear has filed a lawsuit against the EPA.
The group has been incorrectly identified as being “anti-coal” but say they are there to protest MTR. The group is an independent coalition of citizens—most of them from the coalfields—and do not represent any particular organization.
An unrelated MTR protest that had already been planned is being staged on the capitol steps on Monday at noon. The annual event, I Love Mountains Day, will include a mile-long march and a rally featuring Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-D). Previous speakers at the event include actress Ashley Judd and country music singer Kathy Mattea.
Gov. Beshear met with the group for about twenty minutes and declared that he would continue his lawsuit against the EPA and made no commitments to do anything about MTR. The governor did, however, agree to visit Eastern Kentucky at an undetermined time. The protestors remain committed to holding him to this promise and are extending an invitation to the governor and the first lady to join them in the office.
###
Contact: Lisa Abbott 859.200.5159 (inside the Governor’s Office)
Silas House 606.344.0662 (media liaison)
Jason Howard 606.224.1208 (media liaison)
Chad Berry 859.779.1594 (inside the Governor’s Office)
Lora Smith 606.524.4074 (media liaison)
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