Coal toxins threaten kids' health, protesters say

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Youngstown State University journalism and telecommunications students have been in Sago, W.Va., this week to report on the community one year after 12 men died in one of the nation's worst mining accidents. The 14 students are covering a variety of stories, ranging from profiles about victims' families to examinations of communications and rescue devices in mines. This is their second report.

By Cristina Cala and Ernie Calderon

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Carrying handmade signs written on the back of Marlboro cardboard boxes and chanting 1960s protest songs, students, volunteers and activists gathered outside of the West Virginia governor's office late Friday morning, demanding a safer environment for school children.

The rally was the latest in a week-long series of events calling attention to alleged environmental problems caused by the state's large coal industry.

Friday's rally focused on Marsh Fork Elementary School in Raleigh County, where activists say a neighboring coal company is discharging toxins that are threatening the health of about 230 school children.

Protesters singing "Which side are you on, Joe?" demanded an audience with Gov. Joe Manchin.

Instead, his deputy chief of staff, Joe Martin, told them Manchin would not be speaking.

Martin's appearance triggered louder harangues. "How is it that you have the courage to face this and he [Manchin] doesn't?" one protester asked Martin.

Martin responded: "He's tied up in other work."

At a loud point during the three-hour rally, Martin leaned over to activist and speaker Ed Wiley and whispered a request.

Wiley responded angrily, "Don't whisper like that in my ear! That's bull----."

Shouting over the crowd, Wiley spoke about his concerns for his granddaughter: "Is she gonna have babies OK? Is she gonna come down with cancer?"

Wiley was one of many protesters who said they had direct ties to children at Marsh Fork.

Protesters allege that dust from the Massey Energy coal loading silo, located just 225 feet from the school, is contaminating water and poisoning children.

The grade school is also located 400 yards downstream from a dam that holds sludge that protesters say is harmful to the children.

One protester asked Martin, "Why are you not concerned?" Another protester offered an answer: "His kids don't go there."

Maria Gunnoe, of Huntington, an organizer of the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, attended the rally with her 12-year-old daughter, who has friends at Marsh Fork. Gunnoe asked Martin how much coal West Virginia ships out each year.

Millions of tons, Martin estimated.

Eighty million, a voice in the crowd answered.

After hearing that figure, Gunnoe pointed her finger in Martin's face, and asked, "Why don't we have that money for a new school?"

Martin offered little dialogue during choruses of protest staples such as, "We Shall Not Be Moved." In fact, one of the few times Martin spoke was when he asked a protester to bring him some water.

Saturday, March 17, 2007