Biography
Emily “Gabby” Gillespie is an environmental activist from Roanoke, Virginia, whose work with Mountain Justice drew on Appalachian women’s history of nonviolent resistance. She joined the May 24, 2013 blockade of the access road to Alpha Natural Resources headquarters in Bristol, Virginia. In July 2013, she pleaded guilty to blocking a public roadway, received a 90-day sentence with 80 days suspended, and entered the Bristol jail. The July 30 RAMPS update confirms her release; the exact completed custody duration remains unresolved.
RAMPS identifies Emily “Gabby” Gillespie among the four Alpha bridge blockaders committed to Bristol jail in July 2013. Its July 29 update says Jocelyn Sawyer had been released that morning while Junior, Andy and Gabby were still awaiting release. The July 30 update then confirms that the remaining arrestees had been released. This supports Gillespie’s actual July 30 release, rather than assigning Sawyer’s July 29 date to her. The original July 25 posting and its same-day update conflict on whether the plea and commitment occurred July 24 or July 25; those two events therefore retain month precision. Neither the ten unsuspended days nor the five-day good-behavior provision establishes a measured actual total.
RAMPS, Five Alpha Bridge Blockaders Sentenced, July 25, 2013, with July 29 and July 30 updates.
