(The following article by Kim Fundingsland was posted on the Minot Daily News website on August 17.)
MINOT, N.D. — A crowd of about 100 Minot citizens affected by the 2002 derailment of a Canadian Pacific Railway train that spilled anhydrous ammonia on the city’s west edge gathered Wednesday in Oak Park.
Organizer Tom Lundeen, who has been an active spokesman for Tierracita Vallejo residents who bore the brunt of the anhydrous cloud, told the crowd that the rally was for all Minoters and not a Tierracita Vallejo meeting.
“The country needs to know this can happen anywhere,” Lundeen said. “It’s not just for us. We need to make our voices heard. We’re not just going to go away.”
Plans for a trip to Minneapolis to stage a day-long protest in front of CP’s Minneapolis headquarters got a big boost during the rally when an anonymous donor pledged $1,000 toward the price of a charter bus. With that news, enthusiasm for the trip appeared to increase greatly.
Kerry Beechie, a co-organizer of the Wednesday night rally, told those gathered under a picnic shelter, “This will be a peaceful rally,” he said. “We’re not going down there to block sidewalks or get thrown in jail. We want this effort to be constructive, not destructive.”
“Call it what you like, but we’re going to try and get the attention of the railroad, the courts, the judges, the politicians and whatever” Lundeen added. “We need to change the perception of what’s going on in Minot.”
Cases filed against Canadian Pacific by derailment victims have been remanded to the United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Cases that were in court or destined for courts were stalled when attorneys for CP Rail argued they were exempt from prosecution under a 1970 pre-emption law. Victims are now awaiting an Eighth Circuit Court decision regarding jurisdiction before any cases can proceed.
“It’s been four and one-half years,” stated Lundeen. “I don’t know how much more mad we can get. It’s just wrong and we’re starting to get angry again.”
Organizers said they were happy with the turnout and expect the crowd of supporters to grow if future rallies are held. Preliminary plans call for holding some type of show of support in Minot this fall.
“I think everyone is on the same page,” remarked Beechie. “We have a lot more support than we thought. Everyone was just kind of sitting back and waiting for something good
to happen.”
Anyone interested in joining the trip to Minneapolis is asked to contact Lundeen at 839-8062 or 720-1288 or Beechie at 838-9393 or 720-3856. The cost of the bus, if full, will be about $40 per person. Plans are
to depart Minot Sunday afternoon and return to Minot Monday evening.