Press Release
August 5 marks an important moment in the movement to stop Dominion’s Atlantic Coast Pipeline project from defiling our land, our rights, and the quality of our lives.

Friends of Buckingham and supportive citizens will assemble outside Buckingham County Court on August 5, 2015, 12:30 pm to demand justice for landowners committed to protecting their property rights from Dominion’s attempt to use the courts to force landowners to permit Dominion survey teams on their land. This flies in the face of hundreds of years of constitutional law that clearly forbids such action unless the public’s health and safety benefits from such action.  In this case, the facts are just the opposite:  violating property rights would harm the many and benefit only the few. 

At the demonstration, the public will hear, and reporters will be able, to interview property owners who are being terrorized by Dominion.

Dominican born, landowner Mercedes Villamantells us, “I became an American citizen to become a licensed teacher to teach American values to our children. I pledged allegiance to the American flag and to defend the United States Constitution. What do I teach the children now that I am being taken to court by Dominion to force me to allow them to enter my land against my will? When Fidel Castro invaded people’s property, we thought that was wrong. Why would we think it’s right for Dominion to do that here in this country?”

Landowner Bob Day says, “I am going to court to take a stand against a bully. They say they will not do major damage, but they will do damage. They will cut a line of sight corridor for their surveying and that has the potential to alter game trails and possibly even open the land up to other trespassers. With the way Dominion and FERC have disrespected us, withheld information, and told outright lies I wouldn’t put anything past them. My hope would be that the law they have been threatening people with is either totally thrown out, or at least removed from the hands of an out-of-state Corporation.”

The people of Virginia lead busy lives but they are beginning to notice Dominion’s proposed super-pipeline’s threat to their health, to their property value and their rights as land owners, their safety, and their clean air and water.

Dominion has contributed generously to many businesses, legislators and even Federal regulators. They cannot buy off the righteous uprising of the people of Virginia who understand that the lives of their families could be at risk if the pipeline and compressor stations are built.

FoB Co-Chair, Chad Oba states, “Dominion must not be allowed to intimidate, buy and lie its way to the destruction of our way of life, our health and safety and our sacred property rights. Friends of Buckingham will gather on the steps of Buckingham Court House to show solidarity with our neighbors who are fighting a lawsuit by Dominion Power to survey their land for construction of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. We stand together to let the judge and Buckingham citizens know that we care strongly about this issue and we are there to support our neighbors and the opposition to the pipeline.”

We will assemble in an orderly way. Those wishing to enter the court are asked not to wear “No Pipeline” shirts or buttons into the court room and to please be discreet and respectful.