March 9, 2009 · A judge in Raleigh County has extended a temporary restraining order against environmental protestors in the Coal River area.
Last week, Judge John Hutchinson granted a temporary restraining order that forbids environmental activists from protesting at Massey Energy’s mountaintop removal sites in the Coal River Valley.
Monday morning, the judge granted an extension on the order.
The judge pointed out during the scheduled hearing this morning, the order is not limited to the names listed on the order, but also extends to their “associates.”
The continuance prevents protesters from stating their side of the story until another hearing scheduled for the end of this month.
Mike Roselle, former director of the environmental group Climate Ground Zero, is one of the environmentalists named on the order.
He says the order irrelevant in light of the larger issue at Coal River Mountain and the campaign will go on.
“We have a dangerous situation that we want addressed and with Massey’s attorneys and the coal friendly judges they refuse to take any action to protect this community,” Roselle said.
“So this community is going to do what they can to assert their right to live safely, free from fear and free from being poisoned by the coal companies.”
Massey Energy officials did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
The hearing has been rescheduled for the end of this month.
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