This morning six local activists from Chicago climbed over a fence at the Crawford coal plant, scaled a mountain of coal, and unfurled a huge 7′ x 30′ banner reading “Close Chicago’s Toxic Coal Plants.” The toxic Crawford plant operates in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago and is surrounded on all sides by homes, shops, restaurants and schools.
Activists representing Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO), Rising Tide North America, Rainforest Action Network, and the Backbone Campaign are demanding that the City of Chicago close both the Crawford plant as well as the nearby Fisk Street plant in Pilsen. Both plants are owned by Midwest Generation, a subsidiary of Edison International.
The action today is part of an ongoing campaign led by LVEJO and other local organizations demanding that Chicago replace their dirty, polluting coal plants with green energy alternatives. As a part of this campaign, LVEJO is also hosting an extraction fair in the afternoon as a part of the Day of Action Against Extraction, educating community members about the destructive impacts that extractive industries have on people living in Little Village and beyond.
Take Action
If you’d like to stand up to the coal industry with RAN, it’s easy to get started. Just sign up for action alerts at ran.org/energyalerts.
Update
The six activists, all local Chicagoans, were arrested by Chicago Police after two hours atop the massive coal pile. Activists included Jeff Lucas, Peter Hoy, Ellen Magin, Mike Durschmid, Gloria Fallon and Carlyn Crispell.
The groups are demanding the closure of the plant just one day before the much-anticipated Clean Power Ordinance hearing, which could force the plant to undergo major modifications to upgrade its pollution controls.
Twitter Updates
Incredible action today by RAN Chicago, Rising Tide, Backbone and Little Village EJ Org!!! Thanks so much for making it out into the cold to demand clean air for Chicagoans.
This is awesome. I rowed on the river right by this coal plant for 4 years and developed severe athletically induced asthma during that time. It lasted until I moved away from the city and no longer spent several hours a day directly under the polluting coal stacks. Then Suddenly my asthma was gone! Coincidence? I think not. All six of these brave activists are an inspiration. Keep up the awesome work in Chicago. I’m cheering for you from the east coast!
cool direct action. but why only 6 people when for organizations sponsored the event?
Hey Jones – want to join us next time?
;) – Annie