Mountain Takeover - Press Releases - Timeline - Photos - Links - MJS Website

Reclaiming Appalachia
A Mountain Takeover

This morning, a dedicated group of citizens reclaimed Zeb Mountain in Campbell County,TN, from National Coal, an ecologically destructive Tennessee mining company.

Photos - Links

Press Releases

Timeline

  • 3:30 am, a caravan of four cars arrived at the entry gate to the mine site. Scouts rushed out of the woods and the gate was locked down first with a lock. A massive 40-foot tripod was unloaded, and a white station wagon pulled into place. People started working on lockdown, removing wheels from the car while the tripod team moved the tripod into position. The tripod was put up in between the car and the gate and was successfully scaled and mounted. "Road Closed” signs were put up and flairs lit the sky teams dove through the undergrowth. No security has arrived as of 4:20 am.
  • 4:22 am, a security guard approached and declared his intention to call the police. As of now he has remained in his truck.
  • 4:35 am, a second guard car has arrived.
  • About 5:45 am, the lockdown was approached by a number (at least 5) of National Coal vehicles. Very aggressive staff, including one in a sheriff shirt, shouted at the protesters, threatening them with arrest. At this point, one truck charged, stopping mere feet from the people locked down. Support activists stood in the vehicle's path, rushed in to block the way; the truck withdrew.

    The man in the blue shirt attemped to
    ram activists then later participated in
    attacking activists while police watched.

    The man in the light blue shirt threatened the lives of the activists and attempted to ram them with his vehicle, only stopping when threatened with legal charges (such as murder), and when protestors refused to move from his path as they blocked his vehicles access to the people who were locked down.

  • 6:00 am, local police arrive, 2 police cars visible, 6 police officers in negotiation with MJS representatives.

  • 6:10 am, police gave a 5 minute warning before they said they would begin arresting protestors. Still on the site are 2 people locked down to a car, one in a tripod, and 4 staying in solidarity with those locked down. The bulk of the group has moved to public land several hundred feet away and is monitoring the situation.
  • 7:20 am, the supporters who moved to public land have had their cars blocked in by miners. Eight activists are currently risking arrest at the front gate of the mine.
  • 8:20 am, 2 arrests were made. A white SUV, licence plate number: GV5439 (TN), containing police and one arrrested activist who had been standing on a public road in solidarity with the blockade pulled up, targeted and arrested one driver. About 50 trucks have entered the site.
  • 8:23 am, positive dialogue between about 40-50 miners and various activists continues.
  • 9:00 am, at least 3 activists have been arrested by local police. An extraction team and "rescue" team have been brought in to extract and dismantle the blockade.
  • 11:07 am, the road block and the tripod at the main gate have been taken down. So far 9 people have been arrested. A report came in that when the miners first approached the blockade, the lead car tried to drive into the road block and crush the protestors. Only the physical presence of supporters on foot and reminder of the legal implications of running several people over stopped him. More updates coming soon.

  • Sarah Shapero locked to machines
    11:35 am, report from inside the Caryville jail from Sarah Shapero (one of the activists locked down at the front gate to the car):

    "The police endangered Ian Mirror by capsizing the 30-foot-high tripod over (while he was locked in it) and it fell on his knee, injuring him. Daniel Lee was kicked in the stomach while supporting Ian Mirror. Pain compliance holds were used on Nable Wallin while he was locked to the blockade. The car was moved to the side of the road while I was still attached, smashing the lockboxes imbedded in cement pillars against my arms--I have bruises all over my arms. Cars then drove past me, coming within six inches of my body as I was still locked down to the car. One officer stood behind me and others stood apart joking."

  • Further reports from the activists reveal that the police in charge allowed the mine owner full access to the locked-down activists, including permitting him to dismantle the doors and cut the car apart.

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