After some controversy following the proposal to move the graves of an estimated 20 deceased from the Uniontown Black Cemetery, River View Coal has moved the cemetery outside of the mine permit area.
Many African Americans in the community opposed relocation of those who were buried in the historic cemetery. On behalf of that minority community, local NAACP representative Moscoe Rapier collected approximately 200 signatures in petition of the proposal and orchestrated a prayer service in honor of the dead prior to the start of the state permit hearing on March 4.
Approximately 25 individuals gathered at Carr’s Chapel Church in Morganfield for prayer Thursday, before proceeding in a line of cars to the permit conference at the Herron Tech Center. The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement acted as mediator between concerned citizens and River View, opening the floor for any and all comments regarding the cemetery and coal mining company.
“This is your opportunity to speak to us,” said Jennifer Thompson, policy advisor. “We recognize that we can’t know everything. You, with local knowledge, might know more and you are doing us a favor by coming here tonight and letting us know your concerns.”
In their first permit application to the Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement, filed in August 2009, River View included the neighboring land which held the old Black cemetery. Because the job of this division is to protect historical or cultural resources, threatened or endangered species, people’s houses, community centers and churches within any permit radius that could potentially be impacted by mining operations, the mining company had only two options with the cemetery site—secure and protect it where it stands, or move the gravesites to protect it in another location, she said.
Before the date of the hearing, River View amended their proposed permit, excluding the small cemetery from state office jurisdiction.
“This brings up a lot of emotion in the community,” said Heath Lovell, River View General Manager. “That is why we moved our permit line.” Lovell stated that the company’s new position was to leave the cemetery undisturbed.
The coal company will not deny visitors access to the cemetery, Lovell continued, nor has it ever denied access. But he remains resolute that River View’s intentions were never malicious. Lovell stated that the company sought to help provide easier access to the gravesites, which had obviously not been visited in some time.
Of the 56 in attendance Thursday, some, including Patricia Pendleton, took ownership of the state of the cemetery, saying the African American community should do more. “The cemetery is in deplorable conditions,” she said. “I urge Black people to take care of these cemeteries. Don’t just talk about your heritage, show your pride in your heritage and clean up these cemeteries.”
The crowd spoke of forming a committee to preserve and maintain not only the cemetery near River View Coal, but others in Union County, including Terry Hill and Bald Hill, also said to be in disrepair.
“When those people decided to be buried there, that’s what they intended,” noted Ronald Burkins, Jr. “I respect what River View did to move boundaries; it shows they are willing to work with us.”
“After all the rhetoric we speak, we have to come together with our rakes and shovels. I for one would like to visit the place where my ancestors are.”
River View Coal currently has no plans for the cemetery.
