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Ed Wiley on the Today Show Trip

As many of you know, Coal River Valley is host to one of the most clear and egregious examples of energy injustice - Marsh Fork Elementary.  With modern technology to aid both efficiency and  the generation of more sustainable sources of energy, there is no reason that children should have to go to school in the shadow of a coal silo or at the foot of a massive sludge dam.  Yet the students and staff at Marsh Fork Elementary are in exactly that position so that others may live in extreme comfort or keep Times Square lit up in New York City. The kids here in the valley, on this end of Raleigh County, deserve a new, safe school right here in their own community.

With construction of yet a second silo behind the school still hotly debated, even though it's in clear violation of federal law, one man took it upon himself to take the message back to the national platform. That man was Ed Wiley. After "sitting-in" on the state capitol steps in 2005, Ed was met by Governor Joe Manchin with false hope and empty promises to ensure the kids at the school have a safe, healthy learning environment. After many months of waiting for the Governor to come through with his promises, Ed took off on foot to Washington DC. After walking 455 miles to our nation's capitol he met with Senator Byrd. On his walk to DC, Ed raised both funds toward building a new school and awareness about the issue, but Senator Byrd, though full of complimentary things to say about Ed, took no real steps to help. So this September, Coal River's own Ed Wiley picked up and headed to the big city where many of us would see him, with his signs, on the Today Show each morning for a month. In the end, just before he packed it up and came home, the Today Show did an interview with him.

One of Coal River Mountain Watch's staff, Matt Noerpel, had a chance to catch up with Ed about his month long trip to NYC. These are a few of the highlights:

Matt: Hey Ed, I know you went to NYC for a month to get attention for Marsh Fork Elementary – What was your plan?

Ed: I knew from watching the Today Show for years we could probably go there with our message and get on national TV. It was kind of a scary thing because I had never been in a big city, but I just decided to talk to people about it in NY and get the message out.

Matt: What was it like once you got there? Was it as easy as it seemed to get on the show with your message?

Ed: Jordan (Freeman, 2006 Mountain Justice Summer volunteer/ CRMW intern) was with me and we worked hard; it was hard. We had to gain the trust and respect from security. That was a big barrier, it was hard to get to the Today Show people, they was right there at your finger tips but they wasn't. I wanted to do a show with the Today people but our goal was to add a new sign to the railing every day to get our message out.

Matt: Did you have any misconceptions about New York before your trip?

Ed: I'm 50 years old and have never been in New York until last September. I turned 50 in New York. I was always told don't ever ride the subway – you'll be murdered, don't go to Central Park, you'll be murdered. You know, I've heard this stuff all my life about New York and the people in New York and around the United States have heard a lot of misjudgment about us Appalachian people. All these folks think we can do is coal mining, and it's not true. I like to think we're educated these days, we do have computer skills, we do have computers in our homes now, we're not disconnected from the outside world, we do have knowledge and it's obvious all we need are the opportunities. We have railways here, we have major highways, all we need is more business to come in and give us opportunity. We could do more, if it needs assembling we can assemble. The Appalachian people can do anything. We have the workforce; we just need the opportunity. I was misled about New York and I think people around the United States need to know they've been misled about the Appalachian people. We can do more than just coal mining.

Matt: Did you have much interaction with the hosts or producers of the show?

Ed: There was a lady that lived in NY, we caught her eye. She was a photographer. She walked around the Today Show pretty freely. Security would just wave at her. She actually hooked me up with David; one of the producers – that was a big step. She helped me to get David a CD, some literature and a pamphlet.

It took a little work but we got Ann Curry out there and got her a pamphlet, we had the big picture of the school, the flyover picture, and she looked at it.
Another time I got Matt Lauer, but he was always in a hurry…. He did take a pamphlet, he did look at the picture real quick and he said "I know the Governor". Give him a call, I says, and tell him I'm here, and then "boom" he was gone. Matt really kept his distance after that. As time went by I did get to talk to Ann again. She spent a minute, two minutes with me looking at the picture, she listened to me explain what is going on here, took a lot of interest in it.

Matt: Anything else you want to share with folks?

Ed: I believe the trip will pay off. I have a deep feeling in my heart that the Today Show is gonna call back. We've been writing a letter once a month, me and Debbie, and sending it to the Today Show. I think some good stuff is going to come out of it.

You can email the today show at today@nbcuni.com and let them know you want to see more covereage of Marsh Fork Elementary School.

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