Activists rally against Mariner East 2 pipeline
EAST GOSHEN » About three dozen activists, carrying signs and chanting, held a Saturday anti-pipeline rally across the street from a Sunoco gas station, at the intersection of Route 352 and Boot Road.
Demonstrators rallied against the now-under-construction Sunoco Mariner East 2 pipeline. Almost everyone carried protest sign. Signs stating, “#Defend what you love,” “DEP: Revoke the permit” and “Say no to Sunoco” were held high. Several drivers at the busy intersection honked in support of demonstrators.
Many of the participants chanted in unison.
“Stop drilling, stop drilling, leave our land alone,” “Hey hey, ho ho, ME2 has got to go” and “Stop drilling, stop spilling” were popular refrains.
Although she won’t be able to vote for more than six years, 11-year-old Fugett Middleschooler Ava Hughes was attending her a fifth rally, while representing Goshen United for Public Safety.
“I don’t know why they put a pipeline here where it’s densely populated,” Hughes said. “All the kids are endangered by the pipeline.
“(Sunoco Pipeline) is benefitting by putting our lives at risk.”
Sunoco plans to ship highly volatile liquids, ethane, butane and propane 350 miles from Marcellus Shale fields in West Virginia, Ohio and western Pennsylvania. When exposed to air, the liquids turn into a colorless, odorless and low-lying gas that can be ignited by a cell phone, doorbell or car engine. Alexa Manning Club member.
“They’re aware of the serious nature of this dangerous, highly volatile liquid product,” Manning said. “This is not just a regular petroleum pipeline.
“These are dangerous liquids.”
Former Phoenixville teacher Margaret Quinn is a member of the Uwchlan Safety Coalition.
“It affects all of us, especially our children,” she said. “If there is a leak and a spark, there will be devastation.
“The pipeline is too close to schools and homes. I would not want to be sitting in a classroom with children while unaware of a pipeline leak.”
West Goshen’s Tom Casey was thrilled with the turnout.
“It’s gratifying to see people exercising their First Amendment rights and expressing their displeasure of the status quo,” Casey said.
A proclamation was read by a member of the Middletown Coalition for Communtiy is a Sierra Safety.
“We declare our community to be protected space where every member of our community can live in peace and freedom from the threat of eminent domain, water contamination, and physical harm from this dangerous and recklessly proposed project,” reads the proclamation.
The proclamation called on local officials, state senators and representatives, and Gov. Tom Wolf, to halt pipeline construction.
Erin Morelli, event organizer and member of Goshen United for Public Safety talked about the importance of the upcoming November election.
“It’s important to know what our elected officials’ and candidates’ priorities are,” Morelli said.
David Shuey is running for supervisor in East Goshen Township.
“(Natural Gas Liquid) pipelines should not be placed in densely populated areas,” Shuey said. “The township needs to be proactive and not reactive.”