RICHMOND — Upwards of 500 Virginians from all across the state joined with elected officials, a statewide coalition of environmental advocates and indigenous tribal leaders today in Richmond for a historic demonstration against the proposed Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. “Holding hands and ribbons of blue, the participants encircled the Capitol Grounds and called on state leaders — including Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Gov.-elect Ralph Northam — to protect Virginia’s water and reject the fracked-gas pipelines,” officials said in a press release. “The ‘Water is Life Rally & Concert’ comes four days before the State Water Control Board begins a series of public meetings on the Mountain Valley, Dec. 6 and 7, and Atlantic Coast, Dec. 11 and 12, pipelines, at which the board is expected to decide whether to approve water quality certifications for the projects.”

According to the release, the idea for the event sprang from the local groups along both pipeline routes as a way to unify their voices.