Kankakee Times

Manteno is gearing up for a significant event as the No Gotion Rally and Press Conference is set to take place at Heritage Park on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 4:45 p.m., just ahead of the critical Gotion Battery Plant re-zoning hearing before the Manteno Planning Commission. Amanda Piker, founder of No Gotion Illinois, expressed her support for the rally.

The event is aimed at opposing potential rezoning for a lithium-ion battery plant in Manteno.

“I welcome these Patriots to Manteno and commend them for their efforts to support us as We The People make a stand against tyrannical leadership. This is not only a Manteno concern; it is a County-wide concern,” Piker told Kankakee Times.

The event, strategically organized before the Planning Commission Meeting at 6 p.m., will feature attorney Robby Dube, representing Manteno residents opposed to the Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturer setting up shop in the town. Notable figures, including Phil Nagel, running for the Illinois Senate District 40 seat, Mark Glennon, Founder of Wirepoints, and Jeanne Ives, former State Representative and CEO of Breakthrough Ideas, are set to attend as special guests.

NewsNation has confirmed its coverage of the event.

The Gotion Battery Plant re-zoning hearing, scheduled for the same day, has prompted officials to relocate the meeting from the Leo Hassett Community Center to Manteno Elementary School at 555 W. Cook St., anticipating a large crowd. Originally slated for Nov. 14, the meeting’s rescheduling reflects the heightened community interest and concern regarding Gotion’s rezoning application, seeking to change from light industrial to heavy industrial.

Community opposition has intensified, focusing on safety at the plant and allegations of Gotion’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Legal representation has been enlisted to challenge the project, indicating the depth of concern within the community.

The Planning Commission is expected to hear evidence and will recess the meeting until 6 p.m. on Nov. 27 for additional testimony before a vote.

Award-winning teacher and environmental activist Shannyn Dockery has voiced significant concerns about the potential environmental impact of the proposed Gotion lithium-ion car battery plant on the Kankakee River and local endangered species. Dockery, emphasizing her non-partisan environmental focus, worries about the plant’s chemical and water waste, highlighting potential negative effects on the river’s acidity. Responding to media accusations of right-wing activism, she has underscored the diversity of the collective opposition, emphasizing a shared concern for the environment. Known as the “Monarch Lady” for her dedication to ecology education, Dockery stresses the importance of spreading factual information about the potential ecological impact on endangered species in the Kankakee County area.