Easwald murdered, NEPU in crisis
Unsolved murder of NEPU president escalates tensions of energy strike
KLEEDS - Phillip Easwald, President of the National Energy Producers Union, was found dead in his apartment, apparently by strangling. He was 52 years old.
Police responded to a call by neighbors around 2 a.m. to sounds of a struggle and commotion. When police arrived, his third-story apartment had been broken into through the balcony window and Easwald was found deceased in his bed.
NEPU’s leadership issued a statement this morning, condemning the political violence and doubled down on its commitment to the strike, which enters its sixth week.
“We will not be intimidated by political violence. Our late President fought long and hard for the rights of our workers, and we will continue the strike until our demands are met.”
Protests broke out across the country at the news of Easwald’s death, with demonstrators shutting down major highways into Edmond, Kleeds and Vergen. Police conducted 132 arrests.