Musicians, activists will gather Friday to help people affected by toxic train disaster

Like a lot of people, Mike Stout learned about the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment through news reports. He was out of state at the time. Like millions of others, he watched TV images of the broken rail cars, the fire and smoke. But then the news media moved on to other stories – strange balloons flying over the U.S., a shooting at Michigan State University. A lot of disturbing things happen in the world. What are you going to do?

Well, Stout returned to Pittsburgh, heard the stories of those affected by the derailment, and decided to do something to help out.

“I met them and got to know them personally,” Stout said. “They’re human beings, very decent people, working people.”

On Friday, Oct. 25, he’ll assume his role as a musician and take the stage to raise money to help those whose lives have been overturned by the toxic train disaster. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Homestead United Presbyterian Church, 980 Anne St. in Homestead. Joining Stout will be his band, The Human Union, as well as folk musicians Mat Callahan and Yvonne Moore and prize-winning actor, comedian and playwright Wali Jamal. Callahan has a long history of combining music and activism that dates back to the 1960s.

Stout is asking attendees to donate $25, though he says any amount is appreciated. He’ll take reservations and questions at miststout629@gmail.com or 412-461-5650. The money will go to people who have health care issues, housing problems or other needs resulting from the Feb. 3, 2023, derailment.

In the past several months, Stout has made a number of trips from his South Hills home to the East Palestine area to help residents who are organizing and raising awareness of the problems resulting from the toxic chemicals spilled and burned there. He’s part of an organization called Justice for East Palestine Residents and Workers, which is advocating for the federal government to invoke the Stafford Act, which would allow federally funded health care for affected residents.

Stout has been an activist and musician in the Pittsburgh area for more than four decades. He worked as a craneman at U.S. Steel’s Homestead Works and served as grievance man of U.S. Steel Workers Union Local 1397. In the wake of the closing of the region’s mills, he organized a benefit concert for the unemployed in April 1982. That concert at what was then the Stanley Theater helped feed the families of jobless steelworkers and brought national attention to their plight.