Lawn-Care Workers in Virginia Protest Gas Prices 'Crisis'

Earl Humphreys wanted to demonstrate how tired he is of out-of-control gas prices.

So the owner of Lawn Boyz on Bluff City Highway in Virginia organized a two-hour gas protest.

Protestors included owners and workers from other lawn-care businesses whose profits are being impacted by escalating fuel costs.

The group, some in front of Humphreys’ business on Bluff City Highway and a couple of others who moved to the Volunteer Parkway, held several signs up for passing motorists. One read, “Hold leaders accountable, Senators act now.”

Humpreys said this nation is in a “crisis and we feel that the politicians are not doing anything to help us.”

Humphreys, who takes care of 46 lawns, said he started spending more than $100 a day to fuel lawn mowers and other equipment needed for the job. He decided to take action after gas prices jumped past $3 per gallon.

Humphreys again said lawmakers need to do something to ease the financial strain on consumers.

“We feel that when we elected them that we hired them to do a job and that job is to protect us from price-gouging and also to get our country out of a crisis,” he said.

One politician got the message loud and clear on Monday. U.S. Rep. David Davis, R-Johnson City, turned out to support the protest.

“This is the No. 1 thing in America that is really affecting our economy. It’s affecting small businesses, it’s affecting mom and dad around the kitchen table,” Davis said.

The congressman talked about current legislation that he hopes will lower gas prices by promoting the use of domestic energy sources.
In the meantime, Humphreys is making plans for other gas protests. If prices climb to $4 per gallon, the small businessman said he may have to sell his business and find another way to make a living.