This Valentine's Day was I Love Mountains Day at the capitol building in Frankfort, KY. The day consisted of lobbying Kentucky legislators in the morning in order to garner support for House Bill 164, a.k.a. the Stream Saver Bill. At 11:30, KFTC held a rally on the front steps of the capitol, what ending up being--according to some reports--the largest gathering of people in support of change in public policy in state history. There were 1200+ people in attendance at the rally, which consisted of songs and speeches by KFTC members including Randy Wilson (my banjo teacher and the Settlement School folk artist), Public Outcry (a band of musicians formed in response to Rep. Jim Gooch's claim last year that there has been no "public outcry" against MTR mining--author Silas House is one of the lead singers), local KFTC members affected by MTR mining, Louisville clergy, and author and poet Wendell Berry.
W. and I drove up to Frankfort in time for the rally, and, other than standing in the freezing cold for an hour (my kneecaps were involuntarily jerking up and down from the cold during Wendell Berry's speech), it was an amazing, invigorating, energizing experience. And, it was amazing that there were well more than a thousand people in attendance with flu widespread throughout the state and a couple inches of snow on the ground just about everywhere.
After the rally, we went into the capitol annex to attend a meeting with Rep. Tim Couch. However, even though the meeting was scheduled in advance, he never showed up during the 30+ minutes we waited on him. During that time, though, we had great conversation about renewable energy in Kentucky and how to make things happen beyond legislative action.
At 1:30 the entire group came back together to line the tunnel/walkway between the annex--where the legislator's offices are located--to the House and Senate chambers in the capitol building. Thousands of people chanted "Our mountains...our streams...our future...our government" as the legislators "ran the gauntlet." The whole thing was a positive experience; as far as I know, no one hassled any of the officials; we were simply there to let them know that there *is* a public outcry against MTR mining, that folks all across the state care about the destruction of our waterways at the expense of the the state and nation for only the profit of the few who are already wealthy. We were there to make them see that they serve the people, and not the coal industry.
The day had its ups and downs. Some of the legislators were cold and rude to the lobbyists. (One representative from Louisville walked through the tunnel with her fingers in her ears and cringing.) But, KFTC members were also able to secure a few more co-sponsors of the bill, and others who said they would vote for it if it were to make it to the House or Senate floor. And, of course, one of the best parts of the day was just being part of such a mass of people, feeding off that energy, making our cause feel real, and important, and making our goal seem within reach. I know I am fired up, and ready to head back to Frankfort...as soon as this dissertation is done in the next few days.
So, here's the day in pics.
Randy Wilson (my banjo teacher in Hindman) leads off the rally with a Kentucky-fied version of "This Little Light of Mine" (Listen and watch
here):
The 1200+ person crowd on the steps of the capitol building:
Me and another rallyer with the crowd behind us:
W. loves mountains too. What a great Valentine's day:
Wendell Berry speaks:
And we finish up with the Clack Mountain String Band:
