Hundreds to gather at Va. Capitol in unity for clean water, against fracked-gas pipelines

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR: December 2, 2017, 1:00 pm

CONTACT:
Cat McCue, Appalachian Voices, cat@appvoices.org, 434-293-6373

Event will feature concert at National Theater and historic human circle around Capitol Grounds

Richmond, Va. — On Saturday, December 2, hundreds of Virginians from all walks of life and from all across the state will gather in Richmond in a show of common cause for the protection of Virginia’s waters and to take a stand against the risky and unneeded Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines.

The Water is Life Rally will feature a first-of-its-kind human circle around Capitol Grounds, with citizens joining hand-in-hand and holding ribbons and scarves of blue to represent our universal connection to water. It will also feature an enormous “Water Spirit” puppet created by Richmond’s All The Saints Theater Company, and a range of speakers calling on Virginia leaders to reject the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines.

The “Water is Life Rally & Concert” comes four days before the State Water Control Board begins a series of public meetings on the Mountain Valley (Dec. 6 and 7) and Atlantic Coast (Dec. 11 and 12) pipelines, at which the board is expected to decide whether to approve water quality certifications for the projects. This event is intended to send a message to state regulators that Virginians stand in solidarity in opposition to the dangerous and unnecessary fracked-gas pipelines.

WHAT: Water is Life Rally & Concert
Join the Facebook event here

WHEN: Saturday, December 2, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Visuals: Hundreds of Virginians holding hands and encircling Capitol Grounds; Blue ribbons intertwined through hands to symbolize a river; 40-foot water spirit puppet; other acts of “artivism.”

WHERE:Bell Tower on Capitol Grounds, Capitol Street, Richmond VA

WHO:

• Keynote speaker TBD
• Lobo Marino
• No BS! Brass Band
• The Wild Common
• The First Nations Voice

The “Water is Life Rally & Concert” is a collaborative effort of more than 30 environmental and arts organizations throughout Virginia. In one voice this coalition will gather and speak out to protect Virginia’s waters against the proposed Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines.

Following the rally, citizens will walk the few blocks to the National Theater for the concert starting at 2 p.m. and featuring Lobo Marino, No BS! Brass Band, The Wild Common, and The First Nations Voice.

The “Water is Life Rally and Concert” is put together by a broad coalition of organizations, including:

Appalachian Voices; ARTivism Virginia; Augusta County Alliance; Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League; Bold Alliance; Chesapeake Climate Action Network; Charlottesville Rising; Climate Action Alliance of the Valley; Concern for the New Generation; Divest RVA; Earth Allies Chapter of BREDL; Earth Folk Collective; Free Nelson; Friends of Augusta; Friends of Buckingham; Friends of Nelson; Guard N Flags; Healing Water RVA; Interfaith Power and Light; Journey the James; Mountain Lakes Preservation Alliance; Oil Change International; Poets Against Pipelines; Preserve Floyd; Preserve Giles; Preserve Rockbridge; Protect Our Water; Raptors VA; Richmond Food Not Bombs RVA Interfaith Climate Justice League; Sediment Arts; Sierra Club Virginia Chapter; Virginia River Healers; Virginians Against Pipelines; Walking the Line: Into the Heart of Virginia; Wild Virginia
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