Eight arrested during Mountaintop Removal protest

[theHandpuppet]

The Charleston Gazette (WV)
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Eight arrested during MTR protest
By Paul J. Nyden

Eight people demanding an end to mountaintop removal mining were arrested Friday at the headquarters of Alpha Natural Resources in Bristol, Va. Three of the protesters were arrested while they blockaded the entrance to the headquarters of the coal company for two hours.

The activists, of Mountain Justice and Radical Action for Mountains and People’s Survival (RAMPS), were protesting the opening of new mountaintop removal mines on Coal River Mountain near Whitesville in Boone County.

One protester hung a banner on a flagpole, stating: “Save Coal River Mountain.”

Alpha recently began blasting on its new 264-acre Collins Fork Mine. Protests against surface mining along the Coal River began back in the late 1990s. - See more at: http://www.wvgazette.com/article/20140621/GZ01/140629910/1419#sthash.v4HRxZA9.dpuf

[G_j]

1. Thank You!!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

2. K&R

[theHandpuppet]

3. Update: two reports

Activists Blocking Bristol Offices of Alpha Natural Resources
and
Activists being held in police custody in Bristol, VA need your support!

6-20-2014, 12:32 pm.
This morning, eight activists with Mountain Justice and the RAMPS Campaign were arrested during a protest of Alpha Natural Resources, at their corporate headquarters in Bristol, VA. After a two hour blockade and high-flying redecoration of a flag pole, at least five people supporting the protest were arrested, in addition to the three committing civil disobedience by blocking the corporate office.

These eight people are being held by the Bristol Police, and we’re awaiting details of their condition, charges and bail amounts. We ask you to support the movement to end mountaintop removal, and to help save the few unblasted mountains left in our region, by donating to the Mountain Justice Legal Defense fund in support of today’s action.

Mountain Justice has worked for 10 years to support a diversity of tactics in the effort to stop the destruction of Appalachian communities, from petition drives to non-violent direct action. The MJ Legal Defense fund has, and will continue to offer support to anyone who’s freedom is put on the line in defense of mountains. This Fund is wholly supported by individual donations from people that know that every action can move the needle a little bit, and keeps us on the path to an end of mountaintop removal.

Please follow this link: https://mountainjustice.org/