Judy Bonds, the tireless leader in the fight against mountain top removal coal mining, died today. My memory of Judy will always be of the passion with which she spoke and the fire she had for protecting the mountains and the communities of Appalachia – her home.

I first heard Judy speak at Power Shift 2007. I found the video of Judy speaking that night and in it she says, “I want you to notice nature, how geese are in flight. They form a V in a leadership role. And when that leader of that flight …gets tired of flapping his wings, he drops to the back and the next goose comes up front and becomes the leader without stopping without fussing without whining. He or she becomes the next leader.. and that’s what we have to do.”

And that’s just what she would want us to do – to step up & lead until our wings stop flapping. No one can ever replace Judy, but we can carry her spirit for a more just world with us. We’ll carry your legacy on, Judy. Thank you, Judy Bonds, for all that you did & everything that you taught us.

Here’s to an incredible woman and organizer.

“And remember, coal… is the number one enemy of you & your children.”