I Was an Asarco Hostage

It's strange but true. I was an Asarco hostage. Really.

The day started out normal enough. After polluting our community for over a century, leaving a multi-million lead contamination clean-up at our doorsteps (literally), not paying its local property taxes, and illegally burning hazardous waste in El Paso from 1992-1997, we'd had enough with Asarco.

With years of litigation, protests, hearings and meetings, the end is near. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will soon decide if this polluting monstrosity will be allowed to rear its ugly head once again over our backyards. Since TCEQ refuses to meet in El Paso, forcing those who oppose Asarco to travel over 500 miles to Austin for the decision, we will take El Paso to them -- in a community picture of friends, family and neighbors against Asarco.

Yesterday, the Get the Lead Out Coalition (GTLO) had scheduled a press conference at 11 a.m. to launch our Faces Against ASARCO campaign. We are attempting to take a photograph of 25,000 people from El Paso, New Mexico, and Mexico standing against Asarco on Sept. 23, 2007 at 6 p.m. By 11 a.m. all of the press was present. Our dedicated GTLO members, city representatives, and senator were also there. It was refreshing to feel the energy and excitement about our new project.

Asarco's spin doctor/PR mogul, Teresa Montoya, is present at all of the GTLO anti-Asarco rallies, events, and press conferences, and yesterday's press conference was no different. She appeared on the scene as soon as we were about to get started. Some GTLO members get irritated that she shows up; I, on the other hand, like to think of her as an obsessed stalker.

Not to be outdone, Asarco had scheduled a press conference at 1 p.m. Since they attended our press conference, I thought it was only fair that I attend theirs. The GTLO does not have resources like Asarco to pay someone to stalk their every move.

I must admit that I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach as I drove onto Asarco's property. I greeted the guard at the gate and told him I was there for the press conference and finally I found myself behind enemy lines. Teresa Montoya's assistant greeted me and asked what media outlet I was from. She obviously did not recognize me and I told her I was with state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh's office. I was surprised that after I told her I worked for the senator, she still handed me a press packet.

Two minutes later, Teresa Montoya approached me and told me that I was not allowed to be there and I had to leave. I began walking to my car and as soon as I was about to start it up and drive off, Teresa ran up to the window and frantically knocked on the glass. She demanded the press packet back. I simply shook my head and proceeded to drive off.

In my rearview mirror, I saw Teresa running at a full sprint back to the complex where the press conference was to take place. As I approached the guard gate, the bar prohibiting me from exiting was down. I tried to exit through the entrance side, but that bar was quickly put down. I must pause here and mention that when I was allowed on Asarco property just 10 minutes prior, neither bar was down on either side of the guard booth. At first I asked myself, "Are they serious? Is this really happening over a press packet?" Then it was confirmed that they were really going to hold me hostage.

The guard demanded the press packet back. I told him that I did not have to return something that was given to me and to the public press and that he had to let me leave. I then told him again that he could not hold me hostage and that I wanted to leave immediately. He said that I would not be able to leave until I returned the press packet. Next thing I know, an Asarco vehicle of some kind is pulling in behind me to further block me from leaving.

I had just become an Asarco hostage.

I told the guard that he was not allowed to hold me there and that I was going to call the police. When he radioed this back to someone I assumed was Teresa, his response was that they were going to call the sheriff. I said, "Go ahead. I was given this packet so I accepted it and when I was asked to leave, I left. Well at least I am trying to leave. I have done nothing wrong. I have broken no laws and you are holding me here against my will."

It seemed so strange to me that they were making this big of a deal and holding me hostage over a press packet. Then I opened the folder and discovered why Teresa was so panicked. There in front of me was our GTLO meeting agenda, meeting minutes from last week, and our media advisory from earlier that day.

The meeting minutes and the media advisory were published on the GTLO website, but the meeting agenda with logistical information about our Faces Against Asarco event was stolen. I am not going to guess how it was done, but I do know that it was taken from us without permission and delivered straight to Asarco.

Ten minutes later, I was still a hostage demanding to be let free. When I realized that I had all the information contained in Asarco's press packet -- because it belonged to our group -- I handed over the packet in exchange for my freedom.

Holding me hostage is completely consistent with Asarco's record. They play rough. They play dirty. And I believe they broke the law when they accepted, stored, transported, and burned hazardous waste in El Paso without a RCRA hazardous waste permit. Unfortunately, in Texas, decisions like the one on Asarco's permit is based less on science and the rule of law, than raw politics.

And that's where the people come in. And that's the power of a photograph. I ask that you join me and others who want a safe, clean, prosperous El Paso.

In the meantime, as an Asarco hostage survivor, I leave you with this question: Can Teresa and Asarco really ask people to support the rule of law when they so blatantly and readily dismiss it?

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Summer Luciano is a member of Get the Lead Out, a staff member for state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, and a proud graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso.