River Keepers

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The Riverkeepers were formed by a group of Hudson River Fishermen Association, many of whom were United States Marines and veterans of World War II and the Korean War. The fishermen, who depended upon the commercial fisheries of the Hudson River for their livelihood, had initially approached the federal and NY state governments to reduce pollution in the river. After being rebuffed for many years, the group considered vigilante action. However, an obscure statute kept them from becoming a militant group. Using the 1888 Refuse in Harbors Act they were able to sue polluters and clean up the Hudson to a substantial degree. The movement spread across the United States and into Canada and around the world (using some different laws) as the modern Water Keeper Alliance. It has played a significant role in altering the social and legal status of polluters of fresh water resources in both countries. View of the Hudson in the 1880s showing Jersey City The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk in Mahican, is a river running mainly through New York State but partly forming the boundary between the states of New York and New Jersey. ... United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is the second smallest of the five branches of the United States armed forces, with 170,000 active and 40,000 reserve Marines as of 2002. ... A veteran refers to a person who is experienced in a particular area, particularly referring to people in the armed forces. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons—the atom bomb being the ultimate. ... The Korean War (Korean: 한국전쟁/韓國戰爭), from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, was a conflict between North Korea and South Korea. ... In modern terms, vigilantes are militias or police who attempt law enforcement, in the usual phrase, by taking the law into their own hands. Vigilantes often operate in secret. ... The word militant can refer to any individual engaged in warfare, a fight, combat, or generally serving as a soldier. ... 1888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... A lawsuit is a civil action brought before a court in order to recover a right, obtain damages for an injury, obtain an injunction to prevent an injury, or obtain a declaratory judgment to prevent future legal disputes. ... Pollution is the release of harmful environmental contaminants, or the substances so released. ... The Water Keeper Alliance is an environmental organization that grew from an older group known as the River Keepers on the Hudson River in New York state. ...

They have been defended in the past by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. ...