Three protesters arrested at site of BP lease signings in Greenford

Three protesters arrested at site of BP lease signings in Greenford

By robert Guttersohn

rguttersohn@vindy.com

Greenford

Three environmental protesters were arrested Sunday outside the old South Range Middle School, where Trumbull County residents signed gas-exploration leases with BP, according to members of Occupy Youngstown and Frackfree Mahoning Valley.

Goshen Township Police, which has jurisdiction in Greenford, said there was an incident report stemming from the protest but would not confirm any arrests or details of what happened late Sunday.

Susie Beiersdorfer and Ben Shapiro, both members of environmental groups that have been protesting injections wells and gas exploration in the Valley, said about 30 people were outside the old school Sunday afternoon.

Protesters entered the building and did a “mic check,” a form of protest popularized by the Occupy Wall Street Movement in which protesters relay chants, Beiersdorfer said.

Beiersdorfer said one protester then tried to enter the main room where leases were being signed. It was then, she said, that police arrested that protester.

Subsequently, two others entered the building and set off fire alarms. They also were arrested.

After agreeing to the mineral-rights lease with BP in March, Trumbull County residents have spent the last week signing the leases inside the old middle school.

Altogether, the leases totaling about 85,000 acres are worth $331 million, according to BP.