Over a Dozen Reportedly Arrested as Protesters Blockade Coal Plant Owned by Sen. Joe Manchin

Anger over the wealthy West Virginia Senator’s personal profits from the coal industry led protesters to block access to his power plant.

Hundreds braved the snow and hail to rally at the “Coal Baron Blockade” in Grant Town, West Virginia outside a coal power plant owned by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) Saturday to protest the Senator’s climate policies. Organizers with the Poor Peoples’ Campaign also cited Manchin’s refusal to support the Build Back Better Act as a motive for the blockade.

“Joe Manchin has done nothing but block important legislation. Now, we're blockading his family business,” they wrote Saturday.

Climate scientist Peter Kalmus reported that 16 activists were arrested outside the power plant Wednesday as numerous demonstrators locked themselves together in an effort to impede operations at the facility.

“When I was little you could eat the fish out of all the streams. Now I don’t drink the water. I don’t want this to be my legacy. I don’t want kids in the future to say ‘what did you do?’ Why didn’t you standup?’” - Dee Thomas, lifelong resident of Fairmont WV #manchinblockade pic.twitter.com/09uzrtgFEz

— The Coal Baron Blockade (@WV_Rising) April 9, 2022

BREAKING: West Virginians + allies are blockading the coal plant that burns Joe Manchin’s coal waste + makes him millions.#CoalBaronBlockade pic.twitter.com/HxF8Ymt9yB

— The Coal Baron Blockade (@WV_Rising) April 9, 2022

Liberal-leaning media outlets have come down hard on Manchin in recent weeks for holding up the Democratic policy agenda and he’s come to be seen as the public face of the party’s impotence. Sen. Manchin has long been a frequent target of protest and criticism from environmental advocates and local residents who view the fact that the senator personally profits off coal sales with alarm. A local resident and ‘primary organizer’ of the protest explained the activists’ rationale to progressive outlet Truthout:

“Here [Manchin] is, sitting on the chairmanship of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee — probably, aside from the president of the United States, the most powerful position to be in if you’re dealing with fossil fuels — and he’s treating that position like an ATM. He’s getting very wealthy from his own influence.”

On their Twitter page, “Coal Baron Blockade” organizers quoted retired West Virginia coal miner Michael Whitten: “If there is one thing we have to deal with, it’s climate change. And it will take years but Manchin is stopping us. Where does he think his grandchildren will live?”

VIDEO: @RevDrBarber of @UniteThePoor gives a rousing speech to the crowd blockading the coal plant paying Joe Manchin $500,000/year.

“Joe Manchin is fighting for the needs of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce instead of the needs of the people of West Virginia!” #CoalBaronBlockade pic.twitter.com/haC6fuFT7d

— The Coal Baron Blockade (@WV_Rising) April 10, 2022

Environmental activists in the US and Europe have pushed back at the suggestion by energy industry lobbyists that rising fuel prices brought on by Western sanctions on Russia should lead to an easing of environmental regulations. They point instead to record profits among Big Oil as the real reason for the surge in prices that the Biden administration has unsuccessfully attempted to label the “Putin price hike.” Across the Atlantic, “Just Stop Oil” protesters using similar tactics to blockade ten oil terminals were accused of “playing into Putin’s hands to sow discord in the UK” by a Conservative MP.