Large Rally Planned at Arraignment for 20 Arrested Protesters this Wednesday, December 3 at 6:00 PM at Reading Courthouse
Former Elected Official and Civil Rights Activist Ruth Young will Speak; We Are Seneca Lake Will Address Questions Surrounding the Role of Local Residents in the Campaign
Watkins Glen, NY – Carrying signs identifying them as Schuyler County residents, ten local people were arrested this morning for trespassing at Texas-based Crestwood Midstream’s gas storage facility gates on the shore of Seneca Lake. These arrests follow 73 previous arrests as the ‘We Are Seneca Lake’ civil disobedience campaign enters its 6th week of blockades to stop the gas storage facility. All total, 83 arrests have now occurred at the gates of Crestwood since the campaign began on October 23. There have also been multiple rallies with hundreds of people and numerous winery owners, local businesses and health professionals.
The 10 Schuyler County residents arrested today are:
Phil Davis, co-owner, Damiani Wine Cellars, 62, Hector
Paula Fitzsimmons, PA, Physician Assistant, 57, Hector
Scott Signori, owner, Executive Chef, Stonecat Cafe, 47, Hector
Audrey Southern, teacher, 31, Burdett
Daphne Nolder, pastry chef Stonecat Cafe, 29, Hector
James “Jimmer” Bond, employee Damiani Wine Cellars, 28, Hector
Chris Tate, 52, musician, Hector
Jessie Smith, employee, Glen Mountain Market, 24, Burdett
Alexandra Doniger, assistant winemaker, Hector Wine Company, Forge Cellars, 26, Hector
Kyle Barnhart, general manager, Stonecat Cafe, owner Hector Pallet, 30, Hector
Phil Davis is the second Finger Lakes winery owner to be arrested for trespassing at Crestwood’s gates. On November 19, Will Ouweleen, owner of the Eagle Crest and Onehda Vineyards was arrested and charged with both trespass and disorderly conduct. In a joint statement, Phil Davis and Scott Signori, business owners in Schuyler County, said of today’s Schuyler County-themed action:
“This is an attempt to dispel the myth that this movement is an ‘outside’ movement, filled with ‘professional protesters.’ However, we welcome all comers, as we must when dealing with a watershed for over 100,000 people and air that we all breathe. It will take people from all over to protect the environment and to stand up to Crestwood, the true outsider in this threat.”
Signori and Davis said they believe that the continued attention on the most important issue of our time – protection of the environment – is morally and ethically justified.
Signori added, “It is not convenient to do this, but there are many more residents who are against this project and who will be available for future actions.”
Paula Fitzsimmons, Physician Assistant for 28 years in Schuyler County, said, “I feel passionately about my patients and Seneca Lake and the preponderance of evidence is that the Crestwood project is a public health risk of an unacceptable magnitude. I am not willing to stand by any longer while the air quality deteriorates and the watershed is threatened.”
A press conference and rally is planned this Wednesday, December 3 at 6:00 PM outside of the Town of Reading court, when the arraignment for 20 protesters, arrested in previous weeks, is scheduled. Among those facing charges on Wednesday are environmental planner John Dennis, PhD, 61, Chair of the Environmental Review Committee of Tompkins County Environmental Management Council; Ruth Young, 77, former Schuyler County legislator and civil rights activist; and members of the Great March for Climate Action, who, earlier this year, walked 3,000 miles across America, from California to Washington, DC, to inspire action on climate change, in one of the largest coast-to-coast marches in American history. A number of protesters expect to be incarcerated and will refuse to pay their fines.
The group will also address recent questions raised about the role of local residents and their “outside” supporters in the ongoing campaign.
When: Wednesday, December 3 at 6:00 PM.
Where: 3914 County Rd. 28 Reading Center, NY 14876
What: Large rally and press conference featuring arrested protesters, winery owners, business leaders, health experts and more, followed by the arraignment of 20 protesters, some of whom expect to be incarcerated.
Read more about the arrested protesters at http://www.wearesenecalake.com/seneca-lake-defendes/.
Even if these former salt caverns were geologically stable (which they are not), creating the gas storage hub of the Northeast in the epicenter of the exciting Finger Lakes wine region is a terrible idea. Crestwood Energy’s massive gas storage expansion has been rubber stamped by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, without even considering the impact on the fresh water for 100,000 people that is literally a stone’s throw from these caverns.
The politicians stand mute – Governor Cuomo, and US Senators Chuck Schumer & Kirsten Gillibrand have not said a word. There have now been a total of 93 arrests over the past six weeks at the gates of Crestwood.