SALEM, Va. (WDBJ7) "Stand with Red" became a rallying cry for opponents of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. On Thursday afternoon, Red and Minor Terry had a crowd of supporters when the two tree-sitters faced misdemeanor charges in Roanoke County General District Court.
The mother and daughter climbed into their tree stands in early April, in an effort to prevent crews from cutting trees on their property.
And they came down in early May, after a federal judge found them in contempt and threatened hefty fines.
During the hearing Thursday, their attorney Tom Bondurant questioned officers about the police presence on the Terry property, and the decision to establish a perimeter around the two locations where the tree sitters were protesting.
Minor Terry said the women began their protest after a deadline for cutting in areas with endangered bats passed at the end of March. And she said they came down after a federal judge ruled against them.
After the hearing, Red Terry said she has no regrets.
"I got to meet a lot of these people here," she told reporters, "and I think we actually brought this to the attention of a lot of people."
Judge Scott Geddes is allowing the attorneys to file written briefs.
The Terrys are due back in court next Thursday for closing arguments in the case.
Roanoke County pipeline tree sitters stop in Shenandoah Valley
The mother and daughter came down from tree stands on Saturday after a federal judge ruled them in contempt and threatened a fine of $1,000 per day. Now the two are on a tour across Virginia to continue their fight.
The Terrys claim the Mountain Valley Pipeline will hurt their family's land and water throughout the Bent Mountain community in Roanoke County. Tree felling in the area has already begun.
"They wanted to make a point to the [Bent Mountain community] who has fought them non-stop that we run this place and I wanted to make a point to them," Red said. "Not yet you don't. Not yet. We're not done fighting."
She says the government should be doing more to help stop both the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley Pipelines.
"I feel like all the candidates and elected officials are puppets on strings," Red said. "Dominion and the power companies are running the country and telling our politicians what they want and what they can do and I'm tired of that."
April 22: Update: Food given to pipeline protesters in Roanoke County but not Cigarettes...
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