Appalachia Rising a huge success!

On Monday, the voices of Appalachian communities devastated by mountaintop removal coal mining (MTR) reverberated through the streets of Washington, D.C. with incredible power. Marking the culmination of the Appalachia Rising mobilization, hundreds of people converged on Freedom Plaza near the White House for a rally and march calling for an end to the horrible practice of MTR. At the march’s end over 100 people were arrested outside the White House in an act of non-violent civil disobedience, showing the commitment of the movement for justice in Appalachia to hold elected officials and the coal industry accountable. Check out the Rainforest Action Network's pictures from the event:

The day’s proceedings were a truly inspiring display of solidarity as students, faith leaders, scientists and concerned citizens from all over the country stood side by side with residents of impacted communities in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Continuing the theme of solidarity, Appalachia Rising also gave a platform to other communities fighting the fossil fuel industry -- from the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization in Chicago working to shut down two toxic coal-fired power plants in Latino communities to Peaceful Uprising in Salt Lake City, working to halt the first proposed tar sands mine in the U.S. Speakers from these organizations and others brilliantly articulated the injustice of the fossil fuel lifecycle, making the connections between the destruction of MTR in Appalachia, the poisoning of local communities when MTR coal is burned, and the global climate crisis. The climate movement must continue to make these connections as we work to hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for its pollution and destruction. Although Appalachia Rising is now over as a mobilization, our work to keep building the movement must continue, guided by the power of solidarity that the people of Appalachia and their allies brought to Washington, DC.