Fifty-five year old Michael Lee Roselle woke up this morning in a jail cell. His presence in the SouthWest Regional jail came as a result of occupying the offices of the Marfork Coal Company on February 18th. Mike and two other Climate Ground Zero activists were arrested for trespassing as they delivered a warrant for a citizen’s arrest of the Massey subsidary president for violations of the West Virginia State Code 61-3E-10 for wanton endangerment involving destructive devices, explosive materials or incendiary devices.
Mike and his group delivered the warrant to help stop the blasting on Coal River Mountain range. Where the blasting is currently taking place just hundreds of feet from one of the largest coal slurry impoundments in the nation.
This is just one of Mike’s endless stands against King Coal. Mike realizes that we cannot just sit back and wait for the Obama administration to make a decision on clean energy and Mountaintop Removal Mining. While the administration ponders the plight West Virginia is in millions of pounds of explosives are set off daily in our Appalachian Mountains. Coalfield residents are being forced from their homes, waterways polluted, forests degraded and human and animal lives put at risk.
Mike is a native of Kentucky, but for the last year has put his life and liberty at risk to protect our mountains. No words can describe Mike’s efforts and beliefs better than his own:
"Here on the Coal River, we are trying to infuse a deeper meaning to our non-violence. These actions are not media stunts but a last ditch effort to save the Appalachian Mountains from total destruction and time is swiftly running out.
If the Massey TRO is successful in crushing our budding rebellion in West Virginia, then I fear our movement is not going to be successful in saving what's left of the Appalachian Mountains. However, if we can end Mountaintop Removal by standing up to Massey and the coal corrupted West Virginia courts, then we will have learned a valuable lesson about nonviolence and how to confront the crisis of climate change.
In the end, it will not be the clean energy future that we must build, as the CCA e-mails continue to urge me to do, but the urgent, dangerous and dirty energy present that we must confront, and confront it in here in the strip mines of West Virginia, where the rule of law has been denied to both the people and the land for too long. Only the harsh light of non-violent confrontation will illuminate the dark hollows of Appalachia, and bring in justice, our one and only request."
To donate to Mike’s bond go to Climategroundzero.com. It is our turn to aid Mike and show our appreciation for all he has done to help protect the mountains, communities and water of the state we all love.
Comments
Mike is THE MAN1
It's law breakers like this that should be in jail for a long long time. Breaking the law is not the right way to protest or make a point. a true lowlife like the idiots on the Ady-Gil
Thank you both for your comments. Bruce you obviously do not know Mike...his law breaking as you put it is always non-violent and an attempt to save our state from the devastation the greedy coal baron's are doing on a daily basis. Prison is for criminals not hereos....
I admire Mike! "Have you been to jail for justice? I wanna shake your hand. For sitting-in and lying down are ways to make a stand. Have you sung a song for freedom, or marched that picket line. Have you been to jail for justice, then you're a friend of mine" ~ David Rovics song lyrics
Just because you get arrested a lot doesn't make you a "legendary environmentalist."
We should be enforcing laws not breaking them. There are several non-profits taking the law enforcement approach rather than getting arrested -- these groups and their leaders are the real American enviro. "legends."
To AtticusFinch it is not Mike's arrest record that makes him a hero it is the stand that he has taken against the coal barons. If it were not for Mike the chances are slim anyone here would have had the courage to stand up and say this must end. He has rallied West Virginians to stand up for their state, mountains, water and communities.
mike is the man go mike
Mike is our hero- it takes non violent direct action as well as legal actions to make a difference- to bring positive change--it all works together.
Thank you for this wonderful article. Usually when I read a report on Mountain Top Removal it is from Massey's side, making him look good and the environmentalists look bad. You reported exactly how it is and how Mike is working so hard to save our beautiful mountains and the surrounding environment. Once again, thank you!
Just a little past quote from your "legendary" non violent environmentalist......"This is jihad pal, there are no innocent bystanders, because in these desperate hours bystanders are not innocent. We'll broaden our theater of conflict"
Thank you all for commenting...Watcher if you have diligently researched Mike you will find that quote is from his younger, wilder years...Yes, he said it...but the man fighting WV's battle for clean water and coalfield communities health is a not that same kid...I am sure that you have said things you regret especially since u won't post your real name...What exactly is it you are watching? If it was Mike Roselle you would know what a incredible man he is and appreciate all he has done for West Virginians.
Also, you will please recall that, despite its corruption by violent people, the true meaning of the word "jihad" is "struggle" - to improve oneself or society.
Mike Roselle is one member of a large and growing movement of non-violent resistance to the abomination of strip-mining.
Mike is indeed AWESOME...a TRUE HERO. W/ out his invaluable work, and the help of ALL of us as well...the golden dome of the WV state capitol bulding might soon be the highest point in WV. Dont let the miners steal that from us...COAL is NOT West Virginia...it just happens to be here!
Ive personally broken bread in Mikes camp..believe me when I tell you...a warm place to sleep w/ 3 meals per day is a vacation for Mr Rosselle, this time of year.How some morons seem to think that Sierra Club, or someone,...bankrolls these wonderful, mountain saving, tree huggin heros.....is beyond me.They tough it out day to day...they could use OUR help. Thanks, all of you at CGZ....see ya soon
the definition of "jihad"...is a muslem holy war.Were all...(mostly)..on the same side, here...but read the dictionary, its there in B/W. With MTR to deal w/, ...and Don Blakenship..:jihad" may not be a bad term to use, as long as we follow Mikes lead, and remain NON VIOLENT! It will all work out eventually, you take your side, Ill take mine, but lets not kill each other !
Another vote for a wonderful man and hero...good luck, Mikie
I would like to hear what happened to the warrant? There are counties out there that pass laws against a dog barking after a certain time at night because of citizen complaints, yet when complaints MTR nothing is done. When the dog stops barking the quite returns, Can the same be said for our mountains.
The other question is how long will the jobs connected with MTR last? I doubt that they will be replaced with jobs other than scientist trying to figure out the next question: Now What?
Just another ec-wacko raised on too many nuts and berries and he is the biggist nut around I mean anyone who would occupi a tree to keep it from being chopped down are total idiots and that includes JULIA(BUTTERFLY)HILL especialy
Might i suggest him and his two goons be put on PUBLIC DUITY have them cleaning up litter along some highway somewhere or planting trees or building a few birdhouses make themselves useful for once
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