Protests Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Remembering And Revisiting Resistance To The Mountain Valley Pipeline, Inside Appalachia

Red Terry’s property in Bent Mountain, Virginia, is in the path of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. She says the place was beautiful, but she’s worried about the dangers of the pipeline not far from her home. Plus, almost everybody has a favorite cup or coffee mug, but how far would you go to replace it? One woman would go pretty far. And… we explore an effort in western Virginia to make old-time music more available to Black musicians.

Plus, almost everybody has a favorite cup or coffee mug, but how far would you go to replace it? One woman would go pretty far.

And… we explore an effort in western Virginia to make old-time music more available to Black musicians.

You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

Back On Bent Mountain With Red And Coles Terry

Coles and Red Terry at their home in Virginia in 2024.

*Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

People have been fighting the Mountain Valley Pipeline since it was first announced. The project runs through West Virginia and Virginia, connecting natural gas terminals with a 303-mile pipeline stretching across some of Appalachia’s most rugged terrain. Almost immediately after construction began, protestors tried to block it by setting up platforms in trees along the route and living in them.

In 2018, host Mason Adams interviewed activist and tree sitter Theresa “Red” Terry, as she protested against the pipeline on her own property.

Six years later, with the pipeline nearly finished, Adams went back to Bent Mountain to talk with Red Terry and her husband Coles to hear what’s happened since Red came down from her tree sit.

The Last Unicorn (Mug)

The magic is in the mug.

*Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Folkways stories come in all shapes and sizes. And sometimes, they bring a little magic – like a story about how losing a very special mug can lead to finding something greater.

Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us this tale of a potter who lost her mojo and a woman who helped her get it back.

Earl White’s Old-Time Music

Earl White (right) with wife and bandmate, Adrienne Davis, in their home in Floyd County, Virginia. White and Davis are both old-time musicians, and they host a music camp on their farm called Big Indian Music Camp.

*Photo Credit: Nicole Musgrave/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Appalachian old-time music brings together traditions from man cultures: African and African American, Native American and Scots-Irish. And yet, the contributions of Black and Indigenous musicians have often been erased or overlooked. In Floyd County, Virginia, one man has spent years working to make old-time music more available to Black musicians.

Folkways Reporter Nicole Musgrave has this story.

——

Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, June Carter Cash, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Earl White, Amethyst Kiah, Tyler Childers and Dinosaur Burps.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.

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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Morgan County Residents Protest Potential Cacapon Campground

Morgan County citizens have organized weekly gatherings at Cacapon State Park in protest of a plan by the state’s Division of Natural Resources to build an RV campground on park grounds.

Morgan County citizens have organized weekly gatherings at Cacapon State Park in protest of a plan by the state’s Division of Natural Resources (DNR) to build an RV campground on park grounds.

A group of more than one hundred citizens gathered at the park’s upper lake to discuss their concerns. Three proposals for development have been submitted to the DNR.

The development comes after House Bill 4408 was passed into law during the 2022 West Virginia Legislative session. It allows for contracts to be granted to private companies to build recreational and lodging facilities on state park grounds.

Morgan County resident Bruce Goldstein is one of many in the area concerned about the ecological impacts of such a development.

“We have been using this park a lot,” Goldstein said. “We hike in it regularly. And we’ve used the lakes, and we’ve had friends and family come to stay here and take advantage of this great park.”

Environmental groups like the West Virginia Rivers Coalition and Sierra Club have voiced similar concerns, alongside the Morgan County Commission. They say it could cause traffic and safety issues, overwhelm the park’s sewer plant and cause excessive excavation and clear-cutting of trees.

Protesters say the bid from Blue Water Development, which proposes up to 350 spots for RVs alongside other amenities, would be the most likely to be accepted, as it’s the closest fit to the DNR’s criteria of a private company continuing to maintain the campground after construction.

Another proposal from River and Trail Outfitters suggests the state would maintain it, and a third proposal from Scenic LLC suggests collaborating with the state park on the creation of a site outside park grounds.

“I don’t even think they could pick that proposal, even if they want it,” said fellow resident Steve Hay. “Even if they could, it’s still a short circuiting of a process that really needs to happen.”

Hay, like other protesters, is concerned with bringing public voices and concerns to the selection process.

“That is what our message is, is to cancel this process and begin a new process that gets public input, that respects the ecology of the park and does all the things that are in the public interest,” Hay said.

The DNR canceled a public hearing on park grounds scheduled for Tuesday evening. A lawsuit filed Monday in Morgan County Circuit Court alleged the division did not provide adequate public notice before the scheduled date.

“We perceived that the DNR’s public notice for this coming hearing, which is supposed to be a Class II legal advertisement that runs twice in 20 days before the hearing, was not following the law,” said lawyer Larry Schultz, who was also present at the protests.

A legal notice was posted beforehand, but in Berkeley County-based newspaper The Journal, according to Morgan County newspaper The Morgan Messenger.

The DNR maintains they had provided lawful notice but agreed to cancel the meeting, according to a legal filing with the Morgan County Circuit Court.

“The Defendants maintain that the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has provided lawful notice, pursuant to §§ 20-5-16 and 59-3-2 of the West Virginia Code, and would prevail on the merits,” the filing said. “However, the Defendants do not wish to proceed if there is an appearance of impropriety, but instead desire to assure the public that it is in full compliance with any and all notice requirements. Accordingly, the Defendants find it fitting to cancel the meeting scheduled for April 18, 2023.”

There is as of yet no postponed date for the hearing.

A Weekend Of Protest Ends On A Spiritual Note

The Grant Town Power Plant was the focus of protests this weekend, calling on Sen. Joe Manchin to take action on climate change.

On Saturday, despite rain and snow, hundreds of protesters descended on the power plant in an action that resulted in 16 arrests.

On Sunday, a smaller group of about 50 joined in front of the Marion County plant’s gates to celebrate a Palm Sunday service.

Rev. William Barber, of the Poor People’s Campaign led the crowd in a rendition of “Walk With Me,” a traditional African-American spiritual and standard of the Civil Rights Movement.

Campaign co-chair Rev. Liz Theoharis, presided over the ceremony with Rev. Barber and said the protest was a call to action for Manchin.

“Senator Manchin, and then this coal represents a major blockage to passing of programs that could uplift the poor, that could protect the environment that could raise wages for workers,” she said.

The power plant has become a focus of climate and policy activists because of its relationship to Manchin and its pollution. Grant Town burns “gob” coal, short for “garbage of bituminous,” a dirtier and less efficient fuel the plant purchases from Enersystems, Inc.

Enersystems is owned by the Manchin family and in SEC filings, Sen. Manchin reported receiving nearly $500,000 from Enersystems in 2020 alone. Activists claim this relationship unduly influences the senator’s decisions as the chairman of the Senate’s committee on energy and natural resources.

D.L. Hamilton helped organize the weekend’s activities as part of West Virginia Rising. Like many who attended the weekend’s actions, she expressed frustration at watching her elected representative block legislation she believes would help most West Virginians.

“A lot of the locals did not want this to happen, especially when they called it a blockade,” she said. “But I got to thinking, you know, Manchin has blocked so much that it just seems kind of appropriate to do a blockade.”

Hamilton said she believes the state has a bright future beyond coal, and as a native of Fayetteville, she has seen firsthand that communities can transition away from coal dependence. It just takes community, unity, and a variety of approaches

“It takes all kinds. It takes all strategies and tactics,” Hamilton said. “The fact that this was Palm Sunday. And so whatever rabble rousing happened yesterday, we’re here for beauty and peace.”

In the Christian tradition, Palm Sunday commemorates a procession into Jerusalem. Rev. Theoharis drew parallels to the weekend’s action.

“That’s actually what Palm Sunday is about, is being committed in our vision, that it can change and then dedicating ourselves to march on towards justice,” she said.

For now, it is a slow march. Although no concrete plans were shared, organizers said there would be more actions in the coming weeks in the hopes of enacting change.

Jefferson Superintendent Draws First Amendment Criticism After District Investigates Employees Who Attended Violent U.S. Capitol Rally

Updated on Jan. 12, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.

At least two Jefferson County School employees are under investigation by the school district following last week’s protest of Congress certifying state election results. The two employees in question are school bus drivers Tina Renner and Pamela McDonald. The women are being investigated for possible illegal activity in connection to Wednesday’s violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and for “threatening” Facebook posts.

Jefferson County Schools issued a news release over the weekend announcing the investigation.

“Jefferson County Schools fully supports the rights of employees and students to exercise their First Amendment freedoms, including the right to peaceably assemble and to petition the government, but Wednesday’s protests involved violence and other unlawful conduct,” the statement read. “The District is investigating the matter to determine if any employee engaged in any illegal activity.”

Since the district sent the letters, however, there has been an uproar on social media platforms.

Many Twitter and Facebook users have posted strong support for the decision or have shared outrage, citing the move goes against the First Amendment right to freedom of speech.

The Jefferson County Republican Executive Committee’s Facebook group issued a statement on Jan. 9 calling for Jefferson County School Superintendent Bondy Shay Gibson herself to be placed under investigation for her actions, saying her letter to employees was “a frightening attack on our liberties.”

“On behalf of all Jefferson County Republicans, the JCREC is requesting that the Board of Education immediately cease the violation of the Constitutional rights of the BOE’s employees, students, and the citizens of Jefferson County,” the group wrote in a Facebook post. “We are further requesting that Dr. Gibson be suspended pending an investigation of her actions.”

Following the uproar online, Gibson issued a statement Monday saying the individuals in question are under investigation, because she received reports that the employees allegedly published “threatening and inflammatory posts on their Facebook pages” and “had been present at the Electoral protest march on Wednesday that erupted in violence, and had violated our leave policy.”

“I understand that in this hyper-political environment, the letters came across to some as a potential threat of punishment for political beliefs. That was neither true nor the intention,” Gibson wrote. “I want to be clear that EVERY[sic] employee has EVERY[sic] right to the politics and beliefs of their choice, so long as their behavior does not cause harm or is illegal. I am seeking to determine whether these employees violated any policy or laws.”

Gibson went on to say no disciplinary action has been taken at this time, and the individuals were put on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting requested a copy of the letter sent to Jefferson County employees, but the school district did not respond.

The initial news release said the investigation “involves a personnel matter, the District cannot provide any additional information at this time.”

Screenshots of one of the letters, however, have been circulating on social media.

Multiple news outlets such as the Martinsburg Journal and WV MetroNews reported that the employees were to schedule meetings with Gibson for Tuesday, Jan. 12 and that disciplinary action, including termination, may follow.

Another outlet, 930 WFMD Free Talk based in Frederick, Maryland reported that “about 30 teachers” are under investigation, rather than just two.

Jefferson County Schools told West Virginia Public Broadcasting that Renner and McDonald are the only employees under investigation, debunking claims that more employees were being investigated.

Teachers in Jefferson Co. WV that attended
Wednesday's rally in DC are being threatened with terminationhttps://t.co/RWhbyOqAhL

— 930 WFMD (@930WFMD) January 9, 2021

As a result of the suspension and investigation, a federal lawsuit has been filed against Superintendent Gibson on behalf of Renner and McDonald. The lawsuit said the actions of the two women were protected under the First Amendment and maintains they did not participate in illegal activity.

Across the country, law enforcement and the FBI have been asking for help in identifying any individuals who were present at the rally last week and who may have participated in unlawful conduct.

Newly elected House of Delegates member Derrick Evans, a Republican from Wayne County, resigned over the weekend — before serving in the Legislature — following his involvement in Wednesday’s insurrection.

He also faces federal charges for his role in those events.

At least five people died as a result of Wednesday’s violence, including one Capitol Police officer who sustained injuries during the attack on the Capitol.

ACLU Investigates Martinsburg Police For Alleged Use Of Force In Protest Arrests

The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia is investigating the treatment of several protesters recently arrested by the Martinsburg Police Department.

At least 11 people were arrested in Martinsburg the weekend of May 30 and 31 during demonstrations protesting police brutality and racism.

On Thursday, the ACLU of West Virginia filed a Freedom of Information Act request to the Martinsburg City Attorney’s Office and the Martinsburg Police Department on behalf of the Berkeley County Unity Coalition, a newly formed group of civil and human rights organizations, educators, faith leaders and others.

The FOIA asks for bodycam and dashcam footage, names and badge numbers of officers involved, official law enforcement policies and procedures for interacting with community members at protests, and use-of-force policies.

Additionally, according to the ACLU, the protesters who were arrested were forced to sit in jail with “excessively high bails” amid the coronavirus pandemic that has hit jails and prisons in the United States especially hard. A news release also said multiple video recordings appear to show police using “excessive force” and “escalating tensions” during the protests.

“This situation could have been handled in a way that de-escalated the situation and afforded a learning opportunity for both sides,” said Damon Wright, president of the Berkeley County Schools Diversity Council in the release. “Some of the young people were school aged and these incidents could further traumatize them to think twice about the role of police in helping.”

Wright said de-escalation training is “desperately” needed for officers.

Dr. Zakee McGill, president of the Berkeley County NAACP, also called for transparency from the authorities.

The Martinsburg Police Department wasn’t immediately available for comment.

On May 31, someone fired at least eight gunshots during an evening protest in downtown Martinsburg, according to police reports. No one was injured, and the shooter fled on foot.

Small Towns Host Black Lives Matter Marches As Movement Spreads Beyond Cities

By now it’s become a familiar scene: Marchers fill the streets with placards proclaiming “Black Lives Matter,” and chants fill the air as the demonstrators recite the names of those lost.

But there’s something different about some of these protests around the Ohio Valley in the past week. They’re not just happening in the larger cities such as Louisville, Lexington, Columbus and Cincinnati. Smaller college towns such asAthens, Ohio, andMorgantown, West Virginia, have seen marches. Communities in Kentucky farmland and the heart of Appalachian coal country, such as Hazard and Harlan, Kentucky, have seen people protesting against racial injustice and police violence.

“Because prejudice here is as old as our dialect here for some people, and it’s inherited,” Bree Carr said. The 18-year-old from Harlan, Kentucky, said she protested to be an ally for people of color so they will know they have support. “There are so many other people behind them that support you, and hear you, and want to see you.”

Bowling Green, Kentucky, has seenconsecutive days of protest, drawing up to a thousand people at one event. Civil Rights activist Charles Neblett sang with theFreedom Singers in the 1960s to fight segregation. Neblett said he was thirteen when Emmett Till was lynched in Mississippi. He told protesters at the Warren County Justice Center that prejudice and injustice have persisted for too long.

“When is it gonna stop? I’m tired. And more people got to step up and do this thing,” he said.

The protests in smaller cities and towns have been overwhelmingly peaceful. But they have not been without confrontation. A protestplanned for Charleston, West Virginia, was postponed after organizers said they received threats, although a smaller group went ahead with a demonstration. Carr said she received threats over the demonstrations in Harlan, and in western Kentucky marchers have faced assaults.

A video from a march on June 2 in Murray, Kentucky, showed a white motorist using pepper spray on marchers as he drove by. The man, who was from Paducah, Kentucky, was arrested. Another white man was later arrested for pointing a weapon at demonstrators in Murray.

A Facebook video shows a man assaulting marchers in Murray, KY, with chemical spray.

The marchers in Murray invoked the names of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, both killed by police. But another issue is animating the protests here as well. Demonstrators are calling for the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee next to the Calloway County courthouse, spurred by anopen letter issued by a football coach at the local university.

As in other places, the protests here are reviving older debates about statues and memorials dedicated to the Confederacy. Louisville officials on Mondayremoved the controversial equestrian statue of John B. Castleman, a Confederate officer, something city leaders had proposed years ago.

It remains to be seen if the same will happen in small towns like Murray. On Monday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshearcalled for Murray’s statue to come down after being asked a question about it during a press conference.

The calls to remove Confederate memorials in rural communities are also part of a larger theme of confronting a history and stigma of racism in some smaller towns.

In Marshall County, Kentucky, where the population is nearly 98 percent white, more than a hundred people marched on Friday around the courthouse square. Only a few months earlier the county’s judge-executive had allowed a confederate battle flag to fly at the courthouse before a backlashforced its removal.

A protest in Marshall Co., KY, where a confederate flag recently flew over the county courthouse.

Malique Humphries, a 23-year-old black man from neighboring county, says he was afraid to protest in Marshall County after being in other protests because of the county’s perceived racist reputation.

“I have a six-year-old daughter,” he said, “and I felt uncomfortable to come here, you understand that?”

Yet he came anyway to join other Marshall County residents to start a larger conversion about racial injustice, police accountability, and loving one another.

“We should feel comfortable anywhere we want to go, we should be allowed to go anywhere we want to go, it shouldn’t matter if the majority is white or not, we should feel comfortable anywhere on this earth.”

Humphries said he hopes protests like these will start to bring change where it is needed, at the local level.

ReSource reporters Sydney Boles, Brittany Patterson, Aaron Payne, and Becca Schimmel contributed material for this story.