(The Associated Press circulated the following article on August 18.)
MINOT, N.D. — Residents here who are planning a demonstration next week at the U.S. headquarters of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Minneapolis now have a way to get there.
An anonymous donor pledged $1,000 on Wednesday for a charter bus.
“The country needs to know this can happen anywhere,” said Tom Lundeen, who has been an unofficial spokesman through the years for people hurt in the January 2002 derailment and chemical spill on the west edge of Minot. “It’s not just for us. We need to make our voices heard. We’re not just going to go away.”
Residents are upset that their lawsuits against the railroad over the derailment and anhydrous ammonia spill have been stalled in the courts. Railroad attorneys say the residents’ complaints are with the courts and not the railroad.
Kerry Beechie said Monday’s demonstration will be peaceful.
“We’re not going down there to block sidewalks or get thrown in jail,” Beechie said. “We want this effort to be constructive, not destructive.”