Tree-sitters in the southwestern Virginia woods, protesting the Mountain Valley Pipeline for more than 800 days, have been ordered by a judge to leave their encampment by Monday.
Supporters of a dozen tree sitters, protesting the Mountain Valley Natural Gas Pipeline, gathered outside Montgomery County Circuit Court to hear a verdict they knew was coming.
“We have been told from day one that we have no power here and this was going to happen whether we like it or not," said Emily Satterwite. Satterwite teaches Appalachian studies and opposes the fracked gas pipeline and points to the yet to be determined ruling on whether or not stream crossings by the company can resume.
Mountain Valley Pipeline officials have been trying to remove the tree-sitters in order to continue construction on the project that began more than 2 years ago. “But, we’re still here, we’re still resisting and we’re standing up for ourselves and for the planet," Satterwite predicted.
The tree sitters have until November 16th to vacate the steep, wooded property at Yellow Finch Lane in Ellison. If they don’t, Mountain Valley could call in law enforcement.