S. Malone: Rio Tinto is considering making a comeback in Bougainville, although a popular uprising forced the company to close the mine about 20 years ago, after Rio Tinto incited a civil war. Islanders are currently suing the company, in US Circuit Court, regarding human rights violations, including torture, as well as egregious environmental abuses.

Cherry does "forget" previous intimidation on the Plains. Kennecott has directly pulled-over and told at least 2 people to leave or be "removed." One person was on the Triple A; one on CFR property and was instructed to do so by a "man with an Australian accent."

In addition, there have been multiple reports regarding Kennecott supporters threatening to assault mine opponents.

Kennecott also prompted the FBI to question at least three citizens in Big Bay and Marquette regarding their opposition to the Eagle Project.

Other posted comments are correct that Kennecott/Rio Tinto have a pattern of intimidation/violence around the globe. In West Papua, citizens are prohibited from peacefully protesting the Grasberg Mine and the occupying Indonesia government (Rio Tinto gave the Indonesia military millions of dollars several years ago). A student was shot dead there, recently, and countless others have been tortured and imprisoned.

This is the case in Namibia, Australia and other places around the globe where Rio Tinto has its “sustainable development” projects.

The world's second largest mining company, Anglo-American recently prompted local police in Limpopo Province, South Africa to attack and tear gas peaceful protesters. In 2006, one woman was shot in the face (Anglo reluctantly paid for her medical expenses).

This is simply how these mining companies operate and it is not at all a secret.

Fortunately, mine opponents follow strict rules of nonviolence…

* Our attitude will be one of openness & respect toward anyone we encounter;
* We will not engage in physical or verbal violence toward anyone we encounter;
* We will not bring or use any drugs or alcohol other than for medical purposes;
* We will carry no weapons; &
* We will not run.

Cherry: Better come up with a new “community relations” strategy quick.

- - Gabriel Caplett

There's absolutely no excuse for this type of violence going on, especially when the people of Michigan were told by Kennecott that their rights would be respected, their voices heard, and the letter of the law would be followed in deciding if this mine goes in or not through appropriate channels.

On the other hand, I guess we should not be suprised, considering Rio Tinto's human rights abuse record worldwide.

(google papua/bougainville,Rio Tinto human rights, etc- just dig around in the search engines, the litigation is there)

It's just really kind of unbelievable to see these events unfolding right here in what used to be peaceful, quiet,out of the way, clean, serene, Marquette County Michigan. Unfortunately, our undeveloped wilderness finds itself at ground zero on worldwide corporate speculation of lots of money being made if the mine(then mines) goes in(in which we won't see our fair share) or lost if it doesn't. Many mining giants are watching and waiting, ready to turn the Upper Peninsula backwoods upside down once Kennecott is given the go ahead through the same type of corruption/collusion manipulations such as occurred on a regular basis in Utah.

Let's see thru the contested case hearings/appeals if any of our DNR/DEQ/State officials have any cojones ferreas to actually protect Michigan State Lands as they were hired/elected to do so.

A suit for takings? What's the State of Michigan have to fear, they're almost bankrupt anyway! Egads.

"We encourage anyone with any information to immediately contact law enforcement"

Cherry knows darn well nobody witnessed the crime- an assault in the middle of a cold, close to freezing, rainy night on the Yellow Dog Plains. Mr. Pryor was extremely lucky he didn't succumb to hypothermia, from the sounds of the scenario. Cherry knew Mrs. Pryor was downstate at the contested case hearing at the time of the beating.

Only MONEY could posssibly entice Kennecott cronies to rat on their ranks. How ironic.

It's amazing to me to see what Rio Tinto/Kennecott thinks it can get away with.

What works for Rio Tinto in the rest of the world won't fly in the Upper Peninsula, whose people are keenly aware of their rights on Michigan State land and roads. And to see mafia like intimidation happening right here in Marquette County with the assault on Bob Pryor, is extremely concerning.

Kennecott's in for a rough ride.

One thing for certain no matter who is responsible for doing the actual beating, an atmosphere of hate has been created by the way Kennecott Minerals-Eagle has lied and the company, together with Michigan elected officials and bureaucrats have acted in the most anti-democratic manner by trying to pit people against each other claiming this sulfide mining project is in any way about jobs.

Science, like democracy has been cast aside and the Pryor family has suffered the consequences when we all know the real intent of this cowardly act is to try to silence everyone.

Jon Cherry pretends to have "clean hands" in this dispicable beating… which, by the way is nothing but a form of outright terrorism… but, Mr. Cherry's hands are just as dirty as tose who carried out the beating of Bob Pryor because Kennecott has proceeded in such a dirty, deceitful, lying and underhanded manner from the very beginning… this is what has given rise to the campaign of hate.

Make no mistake, anyone can listen to or read what people are saying and you can tell that this kind of thing was going to happen eventually.

Violence and intimidation is part and parcel of the corporate agenda.

Not only was this vicious beating an attempted murder as Cynthia Pryor has stated… it is an act of terror.

What is worse is the fact that these thugs believe they can get away with doing something like this… they did this thinking the police would not act to apprehend them because everyone knows the police and the prosecutors turn a blind eye to this kind of violence. This is part of a pattern in the Upper Peninsula… from the Italian Hall Fire in Calumet, to violent union busting, to Cleveland Cliffs threatening to bring in scabs not long ago… this kind of violence against innocent people has gone unpunnished in the Upper Peninsula when the issue is corporate profits.

I pass out a few leaflets at the Island Casino about how workers are employed in this smoke-filled casino without any rights and the entire UP state police contingent comes out in full force to "protect the casino operators."

Our Organizing Committee will match up to one-thousand dollars the reward for the person who comes forward with the information leading to the arrest, conviction AND imprisonment for all three culprits in this dirty beating of Bob Pryor.

Alan L. Maki
Director of Organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council

How about it John? Show us some of your Christian compassion!

Sincerely,

Doug Cornett

Sincerely,

Doug Cornett

We support the swift apprehension of those responsible. They should be held fully accountable. We encourage anyone with any information to immediately contact law enforcement.

As a company, we appreciate that there are different perspectives about mining. Regardless, there is never a place for violence.

We hope for Mr. Pryor a quick recovery.

Jon Cherry
Kennecott Minerals - Eagle