Waco Friends of Peace/Climate joins the “Protect the Rio Grande & Eagle Pass Residents from Toxic Water” protest

Important Announcements

CURRENT INFORMATION: go to our Facebook group "Waco Friends of the Climate." 1) Beginning Jan. 2025, our focus has been on resistance to Donald Trump, since his policies are our greatest threat to the climate. Thus, we are not having monthly meetings at this time. We hope to hold monthly meetings in the future. Visit our Facebook group for current activities, Waco Friends of the Climate. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1330231820335851 2) Our role in the resistance includes a weekly protest at the pedestrian bridge in Waco, Valley Mills Dr. & Bagby Avenue, each Sunday, 1:00pm-2:30pm. We began the protest in March 2025 and it has been carried on weekly for over one year. We provide huge, highly visible banners. Please join us. RESISTING FASCISM, ONE SUNDAY AT A TIME. 3) Because of the sad passing of our webmaster, Harrison Ward, we have not been able to keep the website up to date. For the most current information, please visit our Facebook group, Waco Friends of the Climate : https://www.facebook.com/groups/1330231820335851 4) To join our email list and be informed of actions, activities, and campaigns, email our Director Alan Northcutt at anorthc@aol.com 5)Free "climate crisis is here" yard signs may be obtained by emailing anorthc@aol.com. Delivery of signs is available. Help raise awareness of the climate crisis, deeply needed in Waco. 6) Winners of the "Sixth Annual Climate Crisis Art Exhibit" may be found in the Archives, April 2023. Some incredible climate art may be viewed.

October 08, 2017

Waco Friends of Peace/Climate joins the “Protect the Rio Grande & Eagle Pass Residents from Toxic Water” protest

On October 5th, Waco Friends of Peace/Climate joined the “Protect the Rio Grande & Eagle Pass Residents from Toxic Water” protest in Austin at the Travis County Courthouse. Organized by the Beyond Coal Campaign, the protest was against Dos Republicas open pit coal mine’s renewed wastewater discharge permit.
The case is Maverick County et al vs. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Basically, the suit is the county, citizens, and environmental groups suing the TCEQ for approving the renewal of the permit for the coal mine, whose toxic pond is contaminating the Elm River, which feeds the Rio Grande.

The protest group consisted of about 40 activists. There were Native Americans and people from Austin, San
Antonio, Houston, Eagle Pass, Dallas -- and three FOP/C members from Waco.

The hearing was three hours long, with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) lawyers arguing against TCEQ lawyers. The young EDF lawyers were very good presenters, and they had the facts to back up their arguments. TCEQ lawyers were weak on facts and presentation style. The plaintiffs seemed to clearly win the debate, demonstrating contamination of some 30 groundwater samples around the open pit. The judge definitely questioned the TCEQ lawyers firmly with few questions for EDF lawyers.

The judge’s decision is pending, but the case is expected to go to higher courts. FOP/C was there in solidarity and as part of our goal to SHUT DOWN all fossil fuel infrastructure. We feel certain the judge was influenced by our sea of white shirts and felt the environmental concern.

THANKS to Ana & Serena Rigby for their participation & endurance.