Last week, Appalachian Voices learned that a miner may have been injured during a non-violent act of civil disobedience that took place June 18th, when 14 activists climbed a dragline on a mine site. They were calling on the Obama Administration to end mountaintop removal coal mining. Though most reports now indicate that health concerns with the miner were unrelated to the protest incident, conflicting reports about the injury are still being resolved*. Appalachian Voices would like to issue the following statement:

Appalachian Voices recognizes the legitimate need for people to engage in non-violent acts of civil disobedience when the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government fail to protect them from the wanton abuses of powerful corporations and institutions. However, any acts of violence committed during civil disobedience–whether by protesters, antagonists or governmental authorities–must be fully investigated and all perpetrators brought to justice.