As tree clearing for the Mountain Valley Pipeline moves forward in southwest Virginia, some Democratic lawmakers in Richmond are asking for things to slow down. They’re also demanding support for a protester, who has been sitting in the pipeline’s path.
A 61-year-old who goes by “Red” is in a platform among the trees on her private property in southwest Virginia. She’s been up there since the beginning of the month.
“Yesterday morning I spent all night up there with her. It got down to about 24-degrees, it’s very cold,” said Genesis Chapman, a family friend. “I cannot even stress this enough. She is incredibly tough.”
She’s stocked with food and water, but authorities have set up a police line and aren’t allowing anyone to pass up more provisions.
“They kind of begrudgingly gave her some aspirin, like one aspirin, but that’s about it,” said Chapman.
There’s little state lawmakers can do to slow the pipeline’s progress, but they did hold a press conference Wednesday to draw attention to the issue.
Some, like Roanoke Delegate Sam Rasoul, held signs saying “Stand with Red.”
“We believe that it is shameful that the county and state officials are keeping provisions from Red,” said Rasoul.
A spokesman for the Governor directed questions to Roanoke County police.
Amy Whittaker, with Roanoke County, says police are in daily communication with tree sitters and that fire and rescue have inquired about their medical well-being.
She adds that police are merely following the letter of the law. In early March, a federal court ruled the land was granted to the Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC through eminent domain.
“The tree-sitters are trespassing on property that was granted to MVP,” Whittaker writes in an email.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
