Anti-nuclear activists to rally Thursday for closure of N.Y.’s Indian Point power plant

Anti-nuclear activists will be rallying at Manhattan’s Dag Hammarskjold Plaza Thursday evening, calling for the closure of the Indian Point nuclear power plant.

The rally – scheduled for 6:00 p.m. – will have speakers that include Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), NYPIRG representative Rebecca Weber, former Rep. John Hall (D-N.Y.), Westchester County activist Marilyn Elie, and others.

Indian Point has been making headlines as of late due to the environmental impact of nuclear plant failure from the earthquake in Japan earlier this year. Indian Point generates about 30 percent of New York’s power needs.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has called for the plant’s closure and had investigated (as Attorney General) ways to shut down the plant due to its proximity to New York (this map shows the blast impact in the event an incident took place).

The plant’s operator, Entergy Corporation, also owns the James A. FitzPatrick nuclear plant near Syracuse. Reportedly, the company is looking to hire former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani as a spokesperson to dissuade public concerns over safety at the plant.

According to a Siena Research Institute poll taken in March, 72 percent of New York voters are concerned about the safety of the state’s nuclear facilities.

Collaborating groups for the rally include 350.org, Center for Health, Environment and Justice, Citizens Awareness Network, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Greenpeace USA, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition, NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, NYC Friends of Clearwater, NYPIRG, Radiation and Public Health Project, Riverkeeper, Rock the Reactors, Shut Down Indian Point Now!, Sierra Club – NYC Group, Time’s Up, UPROSE, Westchester Citizens Awareness Network, WE ACT for Environmental Justice, and other groups.

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