Citizens for Superior, Protect the Porkies, and partners are coordinating a trip down to Lansing for UP residents to educate lawmakers on environmental and economic risks posed by the Copperwood Mine, and to encourage lawmakers to resist any public funding for the mine.
There are currently two $50 million dollar grants pending for the Copperwood Mine. One is stuck in the Michigan Appropriations Committees, where it was resisted last December, and though we originally thought it expired at the end of last year, it’s actually active until September 2025. The other was proposed by Rep. Greg Markkanen as a budget earmark, for which negotiations are happening now, and could end anytime between July and September.
Copperwood's corporate and governmental proponents have been down in Lansing this whole time, lobbying for funding of the mine. This is a critical moment for us to go down and show that the people don't approve of this project and its funding by taxpayer dollars.
We’ll leave around 12pm on Monday, July 14 to carpool down to Lansing from the UP (meeting points in Marquette, and other towns as needed). We’ll be back in Marquette around 10pm on Tuesday, July 15th.
Meeting up in Marquette and throughout the UP to travel down to Lansing for an overnight.
Transportation: We’ll carpool down and back from Lansing. If you can drive, please indicate as such in your RSVP form.
Lodging: While we don’t have the budget to cover hotels for volunteers, we have friends in Lansing who are willing to host volunteers to crash on couches, or tent in the backyard.
Food: Expect for at least half of your food to be covered during this trip. We’ll be able to pay for at least breakfast and lunch on the day of advocacy (July 15th).
Training: We’ll host 2 Zoom training sessions prior to the advocacy day to (a) brainstorm talking points, and (b) train you on how to talk to legislators. We’ll also have in-person training during the trip.
Everyone will be grouped with 2-3 other volunteers, including a group leader – you won’t have to interact with legislators by yourself. Meetings will be scheduled prior to the advocacy day and you’ll receive a schedule the morning of telling you where you’re going and who you’re talking to. Expect to meet with around 6 legislators.
July 14th:
July 15th:
Please fill out the form below to register for the advocacy day. We’ll reach out via email within the next week or so with more details.
