Ohio train derailment: East Palestine protest city officials, South Norfolk

City Hall in East Palestine escalated as angry and angry mobs yelled their displeasure at state and federal officials, as well as the representative of South Norfolk.

It’s been four weeks since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in a city on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, releasing vinyl chloride, ethyl acrylate and isobutylene into the environment—chemicals that are considered highly toxic, possibly even carcinogenic at high exposures. These chemicals are known to cause symptoms such as drowsiness, lethargy, headaches, and nausea.

However, when EPA regional administrator Debra Shore told residents again that officials had not found any chemicals that posed a health risk, she was greeted with cheers.

“Don’t lie to us!” one man shouted. Others hissed loudly.

Despite government officials holding the company responsible for “the mess they made,” residents did not want to be spoken to from prepared statements.

They also expressed dissatisfaction with being told that everything is fine, even though this is contrary to how they feel.

Homeowners complain of a variety of symptoms, including eye and skin irritation, nausea, and headaches. Recently opened a medical clinic for those who have questions and health problems.

The controlled burn decision raised concerns among residents that they were exposed to high levels of vinyl chloride, a colorless gas that is highly flammable and linked to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including brain, liver and lung cancer, and lymphoma. and leukemia, according to the National Cancer Institute.

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“They are all scientists, they sit here and tell us everything is fine,” one resident said in a heated conversation with Mayor Trent Conaway. “I want you to tell me why everyone in my community gets sick!”

“I just want to know why people get sick,” she repeated.

Conaway gestured for the EPA to respond and replied, “Me too!”

One man got excited when he contacted a Norfolk Southern representative, saying he didn’t feel safe living in East Palestine with his children and grandchildren.

“We don’t imagine it,” he said. “That’s not what we asked for, sir. I beg you, by the grace of God, please get our people out of here!”

Thursday night’s town hall became one of the biggest public forums for East Palestine to stand up to the railroad company, though CEO Alan Shaw visited the city and met with local leaders and community members. Shaw did not visit the town hall.

ABC News previously reported that Norfolk Southern officials refused to visit another city hall last month, citing concerns for the safety of their employees, for which they were criticized by the community.

At times it seemed like residents were angrier at their government representatives on stage than at Norfolk Southern for not standing up to a supposed corporate titan with financial clout.

One woman stood up and, speaking to her community, said what she thought all the government leaders present should have already said.

“I feel sorry for each of you. Nobody told you that,” she said to applause. “Someone needs to apologize because we all deserve an apology.”

Norfolk Southern spokesman Darrell Wilson did address the crowd, apologizing for what had happened, but was promptly met with a flurry of angry questions.

“We’re sorry about what happened,” Wilson said, continuing that they would “do the right thing” including cleaning up the site and testing.

One man asked why residents were told it was safe to return home as soon as they returned.

“People who have symptoms should not be fired,” he said to applause. “They should be looked at, but we shouldn’t be here.”

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