On Wednesday evening, April 5th, University of Richmond students organized a march and dance event protesting the environmental damage caused by a coal-fueled electrical plant in Puerto Rico.

The plant, owned and operated by Arlington, Virginia-based multinational AES Corporation, reportedly produces more than 800 tons of coal ash per day. The waste pile is approximately 12 stories tall and contains toxic materials that may become windblown or seep into groundwater. Demonstrators cited health impacts including elevated levels of cardiovascular and reproductive diseases.

The student demand was for the University of Richmond to end its relationship with AES. In 2021, the corporation bought sPower, the green energy company behind the Spider Solar project, which offsets 60% of the University’s electrical energy consumption.

The Wednesday protest event started at the University’s “eco corridor,” continued up past the Westham enslaved person burial grounds (unmarked graves that predate the school) and ended with a traditional, percussive, spiritual, vocal and dance Bomba at the International Community Center Commons.

Here is a link to more photos.