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


AP: WVa Hearing Postponed for Massey Protesters

WVa hearing postponed for Massey protesters

By the Associated Press
March 24, 2009

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Environmental activists who chained themselves to heavy equipment on Massey Energy property have agreed to the temporary extension of a restraining order.

Raleigh County Circuit Judge Robert Burnside planned to consider Richmond, Va.-based Massey’s request for a permanent injunction Tuesday, but the hearing was postponed.

Roger Forman, lawyer for the protesters, said there will be a teleconference to set a new date.

Massey wants the protesters barred from interfering with its mountaintop removal mining operations in southern West Virginia.

Several temporary injunctions against trespassing had been set to expire Tuesday.