Photos: Tree-sitters persist in protest of the Mountain Valley Pipeline
As the sun set Monday on the Yellow Finch tree-sits near Elliston, the aerial blockade of the Mountain Valley Pipeline remained. A judge ordered the tree-sitters down last week. While an encampment of supporters had packed up and moved out by Monday’s deadline, three unidentified protesters were still in their tree stands off Yellow Finch Lane. A temporary injunction sought by Mountain Valley allowed law enforcement to remove the activists if they refused to leave. But there was no sign of action by pipeline officials or sheriff’s deputies Monday.
Packets of legal papers were posted on the Yellow Finch tree-sits on Tuesday after the site was visited by three officials. A judge last week issued a temporary injunction ordering the tree-sitters to leave their stands. On Thursday, he found the protesters in contempt of court after they failed to show up for a hearing.
Packets of legal papers were posted on the Yellow Finch tree-sits on Tuesday after the site was visited by three officials. A judge last week issued a temporary injunction ordering the tree-sitters to leave their stands. On Thursday, he found the protesters in contempt of court after they failed to show up for a hearing.
Mountain Valley Pipeline trucks leave the Yellow Finch tree sit on Tuesday after removing part of a barricade the protesters had erected at the bottom of the slope.
A team of legal observers at the Yellow Finch tree-sits keeps warm around a small fire pit on Tuesday, the second day of the tree-sit watch.
A Mountain Valley Pipeline opponent looks out from one of the three tree-sits off Yellow Finch Lane in Montgomery County on Nov. 16, 2020. A judge ordered the tree-sitters down last week. While an encampment of supporters had packed up and moved out by Monday’s deadline, three unidentified protesters were still in their tree stands. A temporary injunction sought by Mountain Valley allowed law enforcement to remove the activists if they refused to leave. But there was no sign of action by pipeline officials or sheriff’s deputies.
Middle photos: Legal observers with the National Lawyers Guild look up toward the Mountain Valley Pipeline right of way, where a construction vehicle could be heard not far from the three tree-sits near Elliston on Monday afternoon.
A Mountain Valley Pipeline right of way is seen through the trees where the three tree-sits remain on Monday afternoon. A judge ordered the tree-sitters down last week. While an encampment of supporters had packed up and moved out by Monday’s deadline, three unidentified protesters were still in their tree stands off Yellow Finch Lane near Elliston.
A Mountain Valley Pipeline opponent looks out from one of the three tree-sits off Yellow Finch Lane on Monday afternoon. A judge ordered the tree-sitters down last week. While an encampment of supporters had packed up and moved out by Monday’s deadline, three unidentified protesters were still in their tree stands near Elliston. A temporary injunction sought by Mountain Valley allowed law enforcement to remove the activists if they refused to leave. But there was no sign of action by pipeline officials or sheriff’s deputies Monday.
Legal observers with the National Lawyers Guild look up toward the Mountain Valley Pipeline right of way, where a construction vehicle could be heard not far from the three tree-sits near Elliston on Monday afternoon.
Legal observers with the National Lawyers Guild look up toward the Mountain Valley Pipeline right of way, where a construction vehicle could be heard not far from three tree-sits on Monday afternoon. A judge ordered the tree-sitters down last week. While an encampment of supporters had packed up and moved out by Monday’s deadline, three unidentified protesters were still in their tree stands off Yellow Finch Lane. A temporary injunction sought by Mountain Valley allowed law enforcement to remove the activists if they refused to leave. But there was no sign of action by pipeline officials or sheriff’s deputies Monday.
About seven vehicles drove down Yellow Finch Lane honking and shouting support to Mountain Valley Pipeline opponents occupying three tree-sits in Montgomery County on Monday.
About seven vehicles drove down Yellow Finch Lane honking and shoting support to Mountain Valley Pipeline opponents occupying three tree-sits in Montgomery County on Monday.
An encampment of supporters packed up and moved out by Monday’s deadline, but they left a barricade along the bottom of the steep hill where the tree-sits remain.
Pipeline protesters gathered on the side of U.S. 460 in Elliston waving flags and holding signs Monday.
The Mountain Valley Pipeline is above ground and visible from U.S. 460 in Elliston.
Pipeline protesters gathered on the side of U.S. 460 in Elliston waving flags and holding signs Monday.
Heather Rousseau
Heather Rousseau is a staff photographer with The Roanoke Times. She moved to Roanoke in 2015 and has worked around the country as a visual journalist for over 15 years. She loves to share stories through photography and video.
Matt Gentry
Matt Gentry is a Blacksburg native and Roanoke Times, New River Bureau Photographer based in Christiansburg.
Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Robert Turk imposed a fine of $500 a day against each tree-sitter for as long as they remain on the tarp-covered wooden platforms that went up more than two years ago.
A judge said he could not trust that tree-sitter Claire Marian Fiocco would not try again to block the Mountain Valley Pipeline.