Friends of Nelson is hosting the first ever Property Rights Revival in Nelson County on Sunday, November 6, under a big tent outside the Rockfish Valley Community Center.

The revival will feature “testimony” from property owners along the route of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline from Bath, Augusta, Nelson and Buckingham Counties,among others. “We want to show that many property owners throughout the route feel deeply violated by Dominion’s plans for their property and give them a chance to speak for themselves,” says Joanna Salidis, of Friends of Nelson.

Henry Howell III, an eminent domain attorney serving as the emcee for the event,hopes to renew people’s faith in the power of the Constitution and in the role private property plays in promoting democracy. “Private property rights are the guardian of civil liberties. Where do we worship, assemble, speak, raise our families, and have our free press without government interference, but on private property. Private property disperses power,” he says.

Opponents of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, including Friends of Nelson, have argued that the pipeline is a for-profit enterprise that should not be allowed to purchase or access property against property owners’ will. If the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approves the pipeline, Dominion will acquire the right of way through negotiation with willing property owners and through eminent domain with those unwilling to negotiate.

“The United States Constitution and the Virginia Constitution protect private ownership from government confiscation and confiscation by entities with the power of government such as public utilities. We must come together against the threat to our Constitution that we face from a for-profit corporation that is pursuing profits in ways that defile our constitutional rights. We must seek to defend our Constitution every way that we can against the actions of Atlantic Coast Pipeline, “ continues Howell. “Dominion claims they ‘rarely’ use eminent domain so it isn’t a big deal,” says Becci Harmon an Augusta property owner on the route of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline who will be at the revival. “Well, it is a very big deal to me and my family.don’t want their pipeline on our single acre,” she says.

Chap Petersen, a Virginia State Senator from Fairfax, will also be speaking at the revival. “Our land is what Virginians fought for during the revolution. Our land is what families pass from generation to generation. Virginians treasured our land so much they put strong property rights in the constitution. That’s why we’re having a property rights revival. We need to remind everyone why our land, and property rights, are still worth fighting for,” he says.

Speakers will start at 2 p.m. on the 6th, but people are invited to arrive starting at 1 p.m. to enjoy Chase’s Lament, a local bluegrass band, food trucks, and activities for the kids.

The Rockfish Valley Community Center is located at 190 Rockfish School Lane off of

The Rockfish Valley Community Center is located at 190 Rockfish School Lane off of Rt. 151 in Afton, Virginia.

Contact: Joanna Salidis

434-242-5859

josalidis@gmail.com

PO Box 33 Nellysford, VA 22958 friendsofnelson@gmail.com