Earlier this week Radical Action for Mountain People's Survival (RAMPS) organized a rally and protest to stop mountaintop removal coal mining at a site in West Virginia. More than 50 protesters walked onto the property and shut it down, and many were arrested, including activist Dustin Steele - West Virginia native. Dustin has reported being abused by police during his arrest.

Two of our clean energy partners from India who are active in people's movements there and who have traveled to Appalachia and know the struggle wrote this week to send their encouragement to Dustin and all those fighting mountaintop removal coal mining:

The Bars of Dirty Coal That Hold You Will Be Broken Soon,  Dustin

While we in India demand an immediate release, compensation for abuse and apology from those responsible for the brutal actions against peaceful and morally right action by the anti-coal activists against the cancerous MTR coal mines, it was not a shocking news that young Dustin Steele, leading a courageous action against the destructive Hobert coal mine/ mountain top removal in West Virginia, has been arrested and mistreated.

The retaining bars that hold Dustin - and other such crusaders against the oppression of the ...

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