Mountaintop Removal Protest

Dramatic footage refutes Masseys claim that protesters battered miners.Mountain Action and Climate Ground Zero have now released dramatic video footage that documents the June 18th protest at Massey Energy’s Twilight mine site.“By releasing this footage we can clearly demonstrate that protesters were not involved in any violence, did not assault anyone and were even allowed by the operator to climb the stairway leading up the boom,” said Climate Ground Zero director Mike Roselle.“People can look at this footage and judge for themselves, but we think it proves that Massey’s claims that the protestors were violent are not supported by the facts. It was a non violent demonstration, and like the other peaceful protest that have been held to stop mountain top removal since early February no one was threatened or harmed in any way.”“These drag lines are destroying the Appalachians and endangering our future.” said Roselle.“They endanger local communities by exposing them to toxic materials and flooding. They need to be shut down and that needs to happen sooner rather than later. The purpose of the protest was to call attention to the true cost of mining and burning coal.”

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Photo Essay: Kayford Mountain Lock Down

8 Activists Arrested at Kayford Mountain Lock Down
Antrim Caskey

Kayford, WV — Eight activists with a coalition of groups including Mountain Justice and Climate Ground Zero walked on to the Patriot Coal mountaintop removal coal operation on Larry Gibson’s Kayford mountain in the early morning hours of March 23, 2009. Six of the protestors locked themselves, in groups of three, to a piece of massive earth moving equipment–referred to as a Yuke–with tires 24′ tall and hung a banner reading “Never Again” on the machine. The activists locked down for five hours. Ten officers from three different state and county authorities responded to the protest on Kayford, the largest number of people to be arrested during this sustained campaign of non violent civil disobedience that began in February, 2009.

The eight activists arrested include Kim Kirkbride, Ash-Lee Henderson, Tanya Turner, Jared Story, Willie Dodson, Will Wickham, Mathew Louis-Rosenberg, and Glenn Collins.

The activists were arrested and taken to Boone County seat at Madison, were processed and released on their own recognizances.




Kayford Mountain Action, May 23, 2009 - Images by antrim caskey

8 activists arrested on Kayford Mountain


Will Wickham, Glenn Collins, Jared Story, Willie Dodson and other activists with Mountain Justice and Climate Ground Zero are taken into custody after a 5 hour lock down to machinery on Patriot Coal's operation on Kayford Mountain. Three state authorities arrived on the scene: 6 Kanawha Sheriffs, 2 Boone County sheriffs and 2 WV state troopers.  The protestors were taken to the Boone County seat at Madison and released on their own recognizances.  photograph (c) Antrim Caskey, 2009
Will Wickham, Glenn Collins, Jared Story, Willie Dodson, Mathew Louis-Rosenberg, Kim Kirkbride, Ash-Lee Henderson and Tanya Turner, activists with Mountain Justice and Climate Ground Zero, are taken into custody after a 5 hour lock down to machinery on Patriot Coal's operation on Kayford Mountain. Three state authorities arrived on the scene: 6 Kanawha Sheriffs, 2 Boone County sheriffs and 2 WV state troopers. The protestors were taken to the Boone County seat at Madison and released on their own recognizances. photograph (c) Antrim Caskey, 2009