When a group of local women close to Frances Crowe asked her what she wanted to do on March 15 to mark her 97th birthday, Frances was firm: There were to be no parties. Instead, she wanted us to take her to the Statehouse in Boston so she could tell Gov. Charlie Baker of her passionate opposition to the Kinder Morgan gas pipeline that is planned to cross western Massachusetts and snake its way to the eastern part of the state.
Frances, like many in our area, opposes the pipeline because it will perpetuate our reliance on fossil fuels and speed global warming.
Armed with her walker, considerable literature about the pipeline and a laminated index card that said “Governor Baker, Call Kinder Morgan and say the deal’s off: 713.369.9000,” Frances climbed into a borrowed van on Tuesday morning and six of us headed east to fulfill her dream for her birthday non-celebration. “The best way to mark my birthday is a group action,” Frances told us as we made our way to Boston. “We must resist with compassion.”
Once at the Statehouse, we were reminded of how grand, opulent and massive the building, columns, staircases and portraits are and how they intimidate the normal mortal who comes to visit. Inspired by Frances’ courage and conviction, we marched right into Gov. Baker’s suite of offices. Frances asked to see the governor. The receptionist politely explained that the governor is a busy man and we did not have an appointment. She said we could not see him.
And so the six of us — Paki Wieland, Connie Harvard, Ellen Graves, Cleo Gorman, Frances and me — camped out in the governor’s waiting room. Ranging in age from 64 to 97, we calculated that we embodied 452 years of wisdom and activism.
Snacking on everything from granola bars to kosher chopped liver, we sat on the plush couches telling all the tour groups that came through why we were there and why they should oppose the pipeline.
An aide to Gov. Baker came to appease us. We filled his arms with literature about the negative impacts of the pipeline while Connie explained our reason for being there.
“We came to talk about the pipeline,” Connie said. I asked later for a summary of what she told the aide, and she provided it in an email: “Attorney General Maura Healey’s energy study shows that we don’t need more gas supply. The Environmental League of Massachusetts has done a study which shows that expanded natural gas capacity is incompatible with our goals as mandated in the Global Warming Solutions Act by locking us into years of increased greenhouse gas emissions. The study shows that rather than increasing our electric rates to pay for this pipeline, we, as a state, would benefit economically and environmentally by investing in modernizing the electric grid to handle a greater input of solar energy.”
The aide looked stunned. “We have heard from a lot of folks about the pipeline,” he said, “but never so clearly or succinctly.” We all cheered.
Shortly thereafter, we were told that the governor had left the building for an event “on the South Shore” and would not return to the Statehouse that day. Somewhat crest-fallen, we continued to occupy the waiting area and to educate tour groups. Then Paki and I decided to wander off, visit our elected representatives, and invite them to wish Frances a happy birthday — and hear our opposition to the pipeline.
Rep. Ellen Story made herself available immediately and joined our encampment in the governor’s waiting area. While Ellen was visiting with us and hearing our distress about the pipeline, an aide to Senate President Stan Rosenberg appeared in the waiting room and invited all of us to Stan’s office for tea and a chance to talk. Ellen helped us pack up our picnic and we made our way to Sen. Rosenberg’s huge and elegant waiting room. Delicious snacks awaited us there, and soon Stan burst through a side door and greeted Frances with an enormous hug.
Although Stan’s aides said he had “just five minutes,” he talked to us — Ellen included — for 20 minutes. Frances was articulate about her concerns and Stan and Ellen listened with respect and care. “We don’t need the pipeline,” Frances said in her principled, no-nonsense way. “People don’t want the pipeline. And it is not for our use, it is for the profit and bottom line of Kinder Morgan.”
Stan and Ellen said that they know resistance to the pipeline is “strong, deep and wide.” At one point, when we were discussing the widespread opposition to the pipeline, Stan replied, “I know. I was out there.”
Eventually Stan was ushered by his aides back into his inner office, but he invited us to stay in his waiting area and finish the cookies. When Stan was gone, Cleo began to cry. They were tears of relief. Stan and Ellen had understood our concerns and agreed. They heard the opposition and respected our positions. Cleo’s tears reflected what we were all experiencing: We could now leave the Statehouse feeling more hopeful than when we arrived.
“People power,” Frances said when we were back in the van heading west. “Movements for change make a difference.”
Frances Crowe makes a difference. A big difference. And she has for 97 years.
The Rev. Andrea Ayvazian, pastor of the Haydenville Congregational Church, writes a monthly column on faith, culture and politics. She can be reached at opinion@gazettenet.com.