Occupy Cleveland to risk arrest to halt Pennsylvania fracking eviction

[limpyhobbler]

PRESS RELEASE

OCCUPY CLEVELAND TO RISK ARRESTS TO HALT PENNSYLVANIA FRACKING EVICTION

WHAT: Fracking Eviction Defense
WHERE: 7 Riverdale Lane, Jersey Shore, PA
WHEN: Monday, June 4, sunrise
CONTACT: Occupy Cleveland - Joseph Zitt [978-563-9488 & [e-mail]], Ben Shapiro, [e-mail], 804-543-4346
Save Riverdale - [e-mail]; Alex Lotorto: 570-269-9589, [e-mail]; Deb Eck (Resident): 570-772-3335; Kelly Finan: 570-877-2417, [e-mail]

June 3, 2012, Cleveland, Ohio – In response to a call for solidarity from the Save Riverdale campaign, Occupy Cleveland will drive 4 and a half hours to Jersey Shore, PA to stand with Riverdale residents in a blockade to prevent the fracking industry from evicting 37 families from their homes.

On June 1, 2012, residents of the Riverdale Mobile Home Park and supporters set up barricades at the entrance of Riverdale to stop the community from being displaced by Aqua America's plans to construct a fracking water withdrawal facility and send a powerful message to perpetrators of environmental and economic injustice. Occupy Cleveland stands with the Occupy Wall Street movement in national support and solidarity with the residents of Riverdale against Aqua America.

“The 1% believes that it can buy our rights to live in our homes and drink clean water,” said Ben Shapiro, an organizer with Ohio Fracktion who is coordinating Occupy Cleveland’s deployment to Jersey Shore, PA. “Fracking corporations have told Riverdale, ‘You are expendable.’ We are sending them the message that we are the 99%. Expect resistance.”
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https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=299116600182988&id=154591897968793

Related: http://www.democraticunderground.com/101732336

[limpyhobbler]

1. Some good reporting from motherjones.com talking about how this played out.

Trailer Park Evicted to Make Room for Fracking

...snip...
The blockade lasted almost two weeks. Activists from Occupy Cleveland arrived on the scene on June 4, driving across the state line to respond to Riverdale's open call for volunteers to help them hold the site. Volunteers began coming, and a modest flow of monetary donations trickled in. On June 11, Riverdale sent out an emergency call after being told by a utility worker that Aqua America's construction crew would arrive to begin excavations the following day.

But at noon on June 12, a private security company contracted by Aqua America arrived on the scene and began dismantling the blockade (watch a video here.) Nonresident protesters were told to leave or risk arrest for trespassing. When some resisted, the Pennsylvania State Police were called to the scene. Riverdale residents stepped in before any arrests were made, requesting that all volunteers leave in compliance with the police.

Over the past 10 days, construction has begun on the former trailer park. Seven families remain on the premises and are in negotiations with Aqua America for financial compensation.

Lotorto noted that they are also banned from having guests, a measure originally meant to prevent additional barricades and protesters that may have gotten out of hand. "There are three private security guards at all times and floodlights on the place all night," he said. "They can't get their mail; the mailman isn't allowed in there. They can't get anyone to come help them move their things. It's like they're incarcerated."
...snip...

http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/06/pa-fracking-eviction