A Day of Solidarity with Appalachian Mountain Heroes

KFTC members are participating in several events Thursday in Washington, DC as part of A Day of Solidarity with Appalachian Mountain Heroes.

Coordinated by Earthjustice, the highlight of the day will be a noon rally in Lafayette Park in front of the White House to urge President Obama to end mountaintop removal coal mining and support a just transition to a clean energy economy.

A photo petition of more than 13,000 individual photos and personal statements will be delivered to the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Later tonight, concerned citizens and the Mountain Heroes will be hosting an evening program sharing stories of courage and solidarity, and speaking about the devastating community and health impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining to be held at All Souls Church (1500 Harvard St. NW) starting at 7 p.m.

Kentuckians Mick McCoy, Wendell Berry, Teri Blanton and My Morning Jacket will be "featured mountain heroes."

Both events will honor long-time West Virginia activist Larry Gibson who recently passed from a sudden heart attack. An internationally recognized figure in the movement, Gibson brought thousands to view mountaintop removal first-hand and inspired thousands more to action through constant speaking tours. Larry protected his family land at Kayford Mountain from mountaintop removal, and then set out to protect the rest of Appalachia from the same threat of destruction.

You can follow some of today's events on Facebook here or Twitter at #StopMTR.