A land defender who was arrested at a Mountain Valley Pipeline site in Oct for stopping pipeline construction had court this week. Rather than admit guilt within a corrupt legal system that relies on plea deals to function, they chose to stand behind their action. #NoMVP

A district court judge found them guilty of two misdemeanors, sentencing them to three months in jail and three months suspended with a fine of $3,000. They were taken into custody immediately.

On the day of their action, the pipeline fighter released a statement that still resonates months later, as MVP continues to destroy beloved mountains, and the US-backed Israeli military carries out a violent genocide of Palestinian people. They said:

“I'm here because this planet is extremely beautiful. The environment and people who are nourished by clean air, clean water, and clean soil are gorgeous. Appalachia is gorgeous ...

"What's happening here is part of Israel's attempt to annihilate the Palestinian people, like the US tries to annihilate Indigenous people here and all over the world. But the solutions are already here. We have all the wisdom we need, we have all the technologies we need ...

"All we need to do is stop killing everything. Today, we're doing that.”

In court, MVP security and the police testified that the mass action in Oct effectively stopped construction at the site where they are preparing to drill under the Roanoke River as well as Highway 460. Every delay counts. Now, this pipeline fighter is in jail for their actions.

Since the inception of this pipeline, MVP has conspired with the state and the legal system to intimidate and inhibit resistance. MVP could not inflict its daily destruction without the backing of powerful entities like the courts, the police, congress, and the Biden admin.

In spite of all this, people on the ground have continued to fight back for years against this toxic pipeline that endangers communities and fuels the climate crisis. Repression has escalated in the past months, as opponents face absurd lawsuits and outrageous felony charges.

No Prisons No Pipelines!
Donate to support pipeline fighters who are locked up and facing legal repression:

#NoPrisonsNoPipelines #FreePalestine #NoMVP

[Support the Appalachian Legal Defense Fund! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/applegaldefense]

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