Citizens hold vigil for oil-rig victims, disaster

“No more oil spills! We want windmills!” they chanted, holding signs and waving to motorists passing by the Vance Monument in downtown Asheville on Thursday, May 20. The group was protesting the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, which cost 11 workers their lives when the rig exploded last April and continues to spew thousands of gallons of crude into the ocean.

“Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed the terrible effects of our dirty, dangerous energy economy, from the mining disaster in West Virginia to the recent BP oil drilling disaster on the Gulf Coast,” said Russ Anderson, co-organizer of the event. “Students and young people are ready for a safe clean energy future, and we are to protect our future from the worst effects of climate change and dirty energy disasters.”

Emma Hutchins, UNCA Student and co-president of Allied Students for a Healthy Environment, added, ““With each day the United States fails to move towards a clean energy future, dangerous, dirty energy continues to hurt our communities, our health, and our environment. Polluters must pay, not the people who have been hit hardest.”

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Margaret Williams
Editor Margaret Williams first wrote for Xpress in 1994. An Alabama native, she has lived in Western North Carolina since 1987 and completed her Masters of Liberal Arts & Sciences from UNC-Asheville in 2016. Follow me @mvwilliams

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

5 thoughts on “Citizens hold vigil for oil-rig victims, disaster

  1. Anne Craig

    Good for you, students! Thanks for speaking up and being visible! You are our future!

  2. isaacnd200

    I am very angry, as we are all.The practices of Big Oil, like the one responsible for the disaster in the gulf are only the tip of the iceberg..Take for instance, “BRIGHTWATER” a product made by BP, NALCO and TIORCO. This is a liquid plastic they pump into the ocean floor that absorbs into porous rock and expands to force the remaining oil out of abandoned wells. All over the world. It is practices like this that are going to be mankind’s downfall

  3. UNaffiliated Voter

    the hell you say, ‘maxine waters’ …that is anti capitalism, which is the american way…but we aint about to ‘nationalize’ oil companies…

    the ‘protesters’ should put down their signs and go BUILD some windmills if that is what they want…otherwise, they are SILLY.

  4. isaacnd200

    You think you know about what is happening in the Gulf ? I have all the secrets they are hiding, Yahoo is censoring me, get in touch with me isaacnd200(at)gmail.c0m and I will send it to you. Together, we can spread the truth

Leave a Reply to isaacnd200 ×

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.