Mountain Valley Pipeline

Greenbrier County, WV — Early this morning, 3 water protectors locked themselves to 3 separate excavators at a Mountain Valley Pipeline site outside of Rainelle, WV. These 3 individuals prevented work at the site for over 3 hours, before being extracted and arrested just after 9 am. 1 additional supporter was arrested near the site while walking on a public road. Banners at the site read, “VIOLENCE AGAINST MOTHER EARTH IS VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR SISTERS” and “AIN’T SCARED. STILL FIGHTIN.” The 4 arrested individuals were charged with misdemeanors; bail was set between $500 - $2,500 for each person. All 4 have been released. Cherri Foytlin, afro-Indigenous mother of 6 with Extinction Rebellion, explained: “A little under a year ago, while I was fighting to keep the Bayou Bridge Pipeline from crossing our land, I was attacked by someone who thought their threats and acts of violence would quiet my sensible demand for clean water for generations yet to come. I am here today to say: I will not fear cowardly men when it comes to protecting Unci Maka (our Grandmother Earth). "

Greenbrier County, WV (August 29) — Early this morning, two pipeline fighters locked themselves to equipment at a Mountain Valley Pipeline work site adjacent to Interstate 64 in WV. One person was locked to an excavator on site, the other to the drill that MVP intends to use to bore under the interstate. A banner at the site read “ABOLISH BORDERS, DECOLONIZE LAND, DEFEND LIFE ON EARTH,” and a banner seen simultaneously from I-64 read “STOP WORK, JOIN US, EXIT HERE.”  The two pipeline fighters were locked to equipment for approximately 2 hours this morning. During this time, before law enforcement arrived, one of them was assaulted by a Mountain Valley Pipeline employee who attempted to force the protester out of their lock box, hitting the protester’s face against the excavator in the process.

Franklin County, VA — At 6 A.M. this morning, two pipeline fighters locked themselves to separate pieces of construction equipment at a Mountain Valley Pipeline site in Franklin County, VA. Banners on site read “EARTH IS ON FIRE, TURN OFF THE GAS” and “¡SOLIDARIDAD CON PUERTO RICO!”. Work at the site was prevented for 6.5 hours before the protesters were extracted from their blockade by law enforcement around 12:30 P.M. As of 5 P.M. the protesters had not been arraigned, no charges had been released, no bail had been set. When asked why he’s taking action today, Cricket (the person locked to the side boom) said: “Lots of things bring us here, I think. Speaking for myself, I’m currently going to school for integrated science education, which means my long term life plan is to become a science teacher.

Montgomery County, VA — Early this morning, pipeline fighter River Nason scaled a crucial piece of welding machinery at a Mountain Valley Pipeline site in Virginia, and locked their body to the equipment. About 1 mile south, on Interstate 81, a banner was hung simultaneously, reading “DEFEND WHAT YOU LOVE, STOP MVP, RESISTANCE = SURVIVAL.” River’s action prevented MVP workers from progressing welding further along the pipe. River was locked to the equipment for 7.5 hours before they were extracted and arrested at approximately 2:30 P.M. River was arraigned and charged with misdemeanors and is being held without bail. River stated: “It is a common misconception that we all contribute to and suffer from environmental damage equally.