On July 6th, 2014 the Rolling Statewide March to stop the Pipeline in Massachusetts started with a rally with 80 supporters and then a march to Lenox. At this time 13 of the 21 towns have held marches with anywhere from 8-35 people marching often more than 3 miles, along what is proposed as the route for this 36 inch natural gas pipeline that will have a 100 foot easement. Many farms, conservation lands and private homes of people who often have lived in them for over 100 years, are in the path of this pipeline as it goes from the western border of Mass to Dracut on the northeast side of the state. Many studies have indicated that with some conservation on the part of Mass. citizens that this pipeline is not necessary for our benefit and that much of the natural gas will be sent overseas. So many towns are impacted by this which has drawn together a courageous group of individuals from many small towns who are signing petitions and resolutions to ban the pipeline. The march from Richmond to Dracut will end on July 26th. On July 30th many of us will gather in Boston to deliver the petitions to our state legislature. We are hopeful that our energy doing this action will not be in vain.
See No Fracked Gas in Mass for details of how to join the march.
Here is a report back from Friday and Saturday:
Both the Rally at Clarkdale Friday and the March Saturday to Greenfield Common went really well. Friday, Ben Clark gave tours showing how much of his family farm would be impacted, great music, speaker State Rep Stephen Kulik and of course greeting the Shelburne marchers and the passing off of the batton.
Saturday we all gathered at Clarkdale farm at 9am, with Congressman Jim McGovern joining us for the whole march. He gave a short speech, before we left, giving words of support for our action.
We walked 2 1/2 miles to the Greenfield Common, receiving lots of friendly honks. At the Common we all gathered around in the shade while Jim McGovern spoke about his feelings against this pipeline and how much he was touched by seeing the damage that would be done to Clarkdale and many other beautiful farms and conservation land, as well as land owners whose homes have been there for over 100 years. He also got to speak, using a microphone, graciously loaned to us by a musical band playing on the common.
After a 45 minute break, the 35 marchers gathered for the last leg of the march to Cheapside bridge, one mile. Before taking off, Jim McGovern marching to the very end, gave us more compliments about standing up for such an important issue and Annie Hassett led us in a song she had written for the event.
We finally arrived at the Cheapside bridge at 12 noon and turned over the batton with signatures, the banner and a large 2 foot pipe with the names of all the towns participating, to the Deerfield marchers. It was a wonderfully inspiring day… especially for me, as the organizer, that all went well and no one got hurt.
MORE PHOTOS FROM JULY 12:
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These pictures are of the march from Deerfield to Montague over the bicycle bridge over the Deerfield River where 12 kayakers were holding up signs “Stop the Pipeline”
