Three people protesting Massey Energy’s use of mountaintop removal coal mining techniques dangerously close to a coal sludge dam like the one that broke in Kingston, Tennessee a year ago were arrested yesterday after they conducted a sit in at a Massey office. They are currently seeking money for bail.
Here’s how Massey’s public relations crew described the protest:
“Three criminals clad in fatigues and carrying chains invaded a company office and chained themselves to chairs in the lobby. A terrified receptionist went into shock and was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.”
This secretary went into shock? I’m no physician, but last time I checked, being exposed to a sit-in protest is not one of the things that can cause shock. Here’s WebMD’s description of what shock is: “When the body cannot get enough blood to the vital organs , it goes into shock. Sometimes even a mild injury will lead to shock.”
Maybe that secretary felt stressed out. With an underlying high blood pressure condition, that might not feel good. Perhaps she even had a panic attack. However, I doubt she went into shock.
Nonetheless, this incident offers an opportunity for some reflection about the definition of nonviolent protest. The purpose of protest is to provoke people, making them upset. However, being upset can be unhealthy for people with cardiovascular disease, asthma, and mental illness. Does that make protest an inherently violent act?
Massey’s press release makes that suggestion. Are you willing to buy it?
Why, yes.
Just as soon as the government is willing to write and enforce legislation in a way that does not make me feel upset emotionally, I will be sure to protest government policies in a way that will not hurt anybody’s feelings.
Didn’t some British imperialists get all flustered over Gandhi? The poor dears! I guess that makes Gandhi violent.