Worcester, MA - On December 28th, a train of West Virginia coal headed to the Merrimack Station in Bow, New Hampshire departed Worcester a 7:30pm. At 7:50, after a call was made to the railroad’s emergency call number, the over 10,000 tons of coal came to a halt along West Boylston Street in Worcester. As the train stopped, several dozen activists poured onto the tracks at Burncoat Street and walked half a mile to meet the front of the train.
As one of our signs read, our planet is burning; we need to stop adding fuel. My children (ages 7.5 and 3.5) chanted at home in solidarity, “No more coal! No more oil! Keep the carbon in the soil!” - Abby Mnookin, Brattleboro, VT, 350VT Mother Up! Coordinator
Bearing signs that said “No Coal No Gas” and “Coal Kills”, a group grew in the bright lights of the looming locomotive, as the walkers caught up. It did not last long, however. A dozen Worcester police vehicles showed up quickly, and ten individuals were arrested.
I am a teacher in Springfield, MA. I participated in this action because my students, who are largely people of color, suffer from living in the #1 asthma capital in the U.S. and coal’s contribution to asthma rates is well-documented. This is an environmental justice issue that needs to be addressed immediately. Why are we burning coal in 2019 when there are economically viable, healthier alternatives available? - Elizabeth Caretti Ramírez, Holyoke, MA
Within thirty minutes of the emergency number being called and the train coming to a stop, it rolled on again. A row of blockaders sat on the curb in handcuffs at the end of the night as Worcester and railroad police protected the fossil fuel industry’s lethal status quo from further disruption.
Some people might see a protest like this as dangerous or useless. The danger of ever growing carbon emissions is a danger that threatens every living thing. And the fact that people in our cities and towns now realize that coal is being burned next door in NH shows the protests has already proven useful. We cannot correct injustice before we shine a bright light on it. These climate protectors are shining that light." - Alex Chatfield, Lincoln, MA
Supporters gathered in the lobby of the Worcester police headquarters, with food, singing, and maybe also some board games to pass the hours. Our friends were released near 1AM in the morning on their own personal recognizance. They were arraigned on December 31st on misdemeanor charges of walking on railroad tracks, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.
