Dave Cooper at the Zeb Mountain Rally

Dave Cooper at the Zeb Mountain Rally

Sunday, I hopped in the car with Paco and drove to Elk Valley, Tennessee, for the march on Zeb Mountain. I was greeted by about 100 other activists and concerned citizens that are upset about the state of affairs with mountain top removal mining (ahem, i mean surface mining in TN, since they deny that they do MTR) and want to make a statement to the corporations, local government, and really, the world about how stupid it is for us to be destroying the watersheds and forests of Appalachia. Watersheds that we drink from, and need to drink from in the future.

 

Root Digger and woman extraordinaire, Carol Judy from Eagan, TN

Root Digger and woman extraordinaire, Carol Judy from Eagan, TN

I was humbled by the voices of so many other coalfield residents like myself (a new-to-the-coalfields but generations-long appalachian person) who are angry about what’s being done to their communities. Carol Judy is one of these that humbles me, encourages me, and fills me with peace, knowing that there are so many respectable, kind, loving, and intelligent people fighting mountain top removal. Being around people like Carol and our friend Vicki, who also showed up with her granddaughter (granddaughter below)

 

Vickis Granddaughters Brilliant Sign

Vicki's Granddaughter's Brilliant Sign

I too, am an appalachian, not a rich activist (I think a “Rich activist” would need to make above 30k a year, but who am I to know?), but would say that I am an activist. Too many meetings and rallys and protests under my belt to say otherwise.

As a rally, this one was good. The cops were nice, (isn’t that strange to write) the sun was shining, and those that were arrested were arrested by choice/conscience. Shouldn’t they all go that way? Here’s a lil’ ole video clip from the action…