This article originally provided by WV Metro News

June 1, 2005

Sixteen Arrested at Environmental Rally

Sundial

Hear Comments From Julia Bonds By Clicking here.

State Police arrested 16 protesters at a rally at Massey Energy Goals Coal Processing plant in Raleigh County Tuesday.

The sixteen were a part of a larger group protesting the environmental conditions in the small town of Sundial, especially those at Marsh Fork Elementary School that sits near the preparation plant.

Sergeant Wayne Vessels says the group presented a list of demands to Massey. After they refused to leave the premises, they were arrested, brought to the Whitesville State Police Detachment, cited, and then released.

Those demands included cleaning up the elementary school or, as an alternative, building a new one in the town; removing their application for another coal loading silo behind the school; and stopping their blasting operations near their homes.

Leading Tuesday's protest was a group called Coal River Mountain Watch. This was their second protest in the last week.

Parents of Marsh Fork students say their children's health is in jeopardy from all the coal dust and chemicals they use at the Massey operation.

Sundial is not alone in its fight. Bonds says there's a tiny town in Kentucky battling the same situation. In fact, she says there are dozens of communities all over the country in similar straits. They're just joining forces.

In fact, says Sgt. Vessels, many of those arrested were from out of state.

Julia Bonds with Coal River Mountain Watch says Massey doesn't know it yet, but they're beat. She says the members of Coal River Mountain Watch and thousands of supporters are determined to make the company comply with air and water quality standards. She says Massey's "dirty little secret" needs to be revealed.