500 Native Americans and Maverick Countians March to Protest Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s Eagle Pass Mine

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

Approximately 500 Native Americans and Maverick Countians participated in a protest march against the controversial Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s Eagle Pass Coal Mine on Saturday, April 16, 2016, walking nine miles from the City of Eagle Pass Shelby Park to the coal mine site off of FM 1588 (Thompson Road).

The historic protest march featured people from all walks of life, including babies on strollers, children, adults, and even horses and riders.  The protestors came from a diverse area of the United States and North America, including Eagle Pass, Texas, Maverick County, San Antonio, Texas, Austin, Texas, Dallas, Texas, Houston, Texas, Lawton, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.

The protestors walked six and one half hours through downtown Main Street Eagle Pass, Ceylon Street, Del Rio Boulevard, U.S. Highway 277 North, and FM 1588 (Thompson Road).

The protest march was organized by Native Texans United, a Coaliton of Native American Tribes and non-profit organizations, including the Lipan Apache Band of Texas, Pacuache Band of the Coahuiltean Nation, Carrizo- Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, Comanche Nation of Oklahoma, American Indian Movement of Central Texas, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (TEJAS), Equilibrio ATX EJ, Southwest Workers Union, Maverick County Environmental and Public Health Association, and the Coalition for a Clean Maverick County.

The purpose of the protest march was to bring awareness of and protest the desecration and destruction of historical Native American archaeological sites within the permitted area of the Eagle Pass Mine and the contamination and pollution of the air and water of Eagle Pass, Texas and Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico residents as well as Texas-Mexico border residents downstream from Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras, Coahuila.

Before commencing the protest march, keynote Native American speakers spoke against the Dos Republicas Coal Mine and the need to protect and honor their sacred burial grounds and archaeological sites within the permitted mine territory boundaries along Elm Creek and other creeks.

Upon arriving at the controversial Dos Republicas Coal Mine, Native American singers and dancers performed for their ancestors buried within the coal mine site and speakers spoke against the destruction of over 120 Native American archaeological sites within the mine site.

Organizers proclaimed the protest march a success and plan to continue holding other events in the future.