A group of climate change activists reportedly attempted to block a freight train hauling coal to New Hampshire.
No one was hurt but video of the incident, shared on Twitter by an environmental reporter in Massachusetts, appeared to show a slow-moving train with horn blaring, attempting to get through the group of climate change activists gathered on track in the darkness.
#BREAKING A train carrying coal to NH nearly ran over a dozen climate activists who tried to block it in Worcester. This happened after someone farther south on the tracks called the emergency hotline twice to report there were people on the tracks. pic.twitter.com/uaUa12mauQ
— Miriam Wasser (@MiriamWasser) December 17, 2019
Activists holding small lights and surrounding the tracks were visible in the video posted by WBUR reporter, Miriam Wasser, which showed the train as it went through Worchester, Mass. Calls were placed on an emergency hotline to alert the train that there were people on the tracks.
An activist group in the state tweeted in response to the video saying that the train “refused to stop.”
The train and the dispatchers knew that there were people on the tracks and refused to stop. No one was hurt. #shutdownbow #nocoalnogas #trainbytrain
— 350 New Hampshire (@350NH) December 17, 2019
The group describes itself as a “grassroots movement in New Hampshire dedicated to stopping climate change and saving our economy.”
“Our plan is simple,” the group’s website states. “Stop the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure, and demand renewable energy.”
Earlier this month, the group touted efforts to block other freight trains at various points in New Hampshire, including Worcester, Ayer and Hooksett.
BREAKING: students and community members in Worcester have stopped a shipment of coal from being delivered to #Bow #NoCoalNoGas #BlockadeParty pic.twitter.com/xAnElSyv1p
— 350 New Hampshire Action (@350NH_ACTION) December 8, 2019
Coal train blockade number two happening now in Ayer, MA. Arrests are being made. Train on the way to NH…Where will the blockade go next???#nocoalnogas #bucketbybucket #trainbytrain pic.twitter.com/SQUrTyHQxw
— 350 New Hampshire (@350NH) December 8, 2019
BREAKING: The coal train has just been blocked by a THIRD group of protestors.
This train has been trying to move coal all night and day, but it’s stuck and going nowhere—just like the fossil fuel industry.
In the face of #ClimateEmergency, we say #NoCoalNoGas pic.twitter.com/WK1YndtA6p
— Adam Greenberg ?? (@pragmactivist) December 8, 2019
BREAKING: third blockade of the coal train heading to Bow, NH is underway in Hooksett NH. We will end the burning of coal #bucketbybucket and #trainbytrain #NoCoalNoGas @350 @ClimateDisobey pic.twitter.com/3wYOAWyUvK
— 350 New Hampshire Action (@350NH_ACTION) December 8, 2019
Does braving ice & snow at 4am to stop a coal train in its tracks sound crazy? Not as crazy as govt defying decades of #ClimateScience to pollute our planet & risk humanity’s future. Thanks to brave @350NH activists for taking #ClimateAction! #nhpolitics https://t.co/eoz4ywWyxO
— Dan Weeks (@DemocracyDan) December 9, 2019
“In 2019, there’s no reason for us to still be burning coal,” Marla Marcum, director of the Climate Disobedience Center, told the Boston Globe following the earlier protests, noting that the activists had called the train’s dispatchers ahead to warn them.
No arrests or injuries were reported in the protest in Worcester, as a train delivering coal to Merrimack Station, a power plant in Bow, was blocked. But police arrested a dozen protesters for trespassing on railroad property in Ayer and another 12 were arrested in Hooksett, after hanging an anti-coal banner on a railroad bridge.
While climate activists cheered on the efforts to shut down the plant, others on social media called out the protesters and their agenda.
Train crew operated at Restricted Speed. Probably felt threatened seeing his train surrounded by a gang of people in the middle of the night. Clearly you could care less about the stress of this crew. Hopefully those protesters have been arrested for trespassing. @CSX
— Kip Verbeek (@Kipwr13) December 17, 2019
“Climate activists”, how about ECO-TERRORISTS!
— Marcus (@MarcusVeritas20) December 17, 2019
If these brilliant activists had actually caused the train to stop, it would have had to use much more diesel fuel to get up to speed than it would have burned maintaining its previous speed. Way to increase the train’s carbon footprint, nutties.
— Oh… A wise guy, eh? (@LarryCoilyMoe) December 17, 2019
I got a good idea… Lets protest climate change by standing on railroad tracks to stop a coal train
at night
— Mike M (@mynropmail) December 17, 2019
Volcanic activity is a major cause of carbon emissions. These people should stand at the base of an active volcano with their signs.
— ReadTheTranscript ⭐⭐⭐ (@TranscriptRead) December 17, 2019
They must have found directions to the spot on their solar and wind powered computers and phones.. ?
— Mike g (@oakleyfire1) December 17, 2019
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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