The Michigan state police have been notified of an attack on a Big Bay man at his home over the weekend. Robert Pryor of Big Bay was assaulted by three unknown males in the late hours of the evening at his cabin, which is located in a remote area of Champion Township near Big Bay. The three identified themselves by asking if he “was one of those anti-mining guys”. When he responded and asked them to leave, they attacked him with their fists and knocked him unconscious and to the ground where they left him face down in the rain. He suffered multiple cuts, scrapes, contusions, and injury to one eye. The couple’s cabin is within six miles of the proposed Kennecott mine site on the Yellow Dog Plains.
His wife, Cynthia, has been very active in the opposition to this mine proposal on the Yellow Dog Plains. She was, at the time of the attack, attending the contested case hearings in Lansing and not at home. Her response to this attack? “My husband has, by choice, not been a public part of this issue. To have someone come to our home, attack my husband and leave him unconscious outside in the then freezing weather — is beyond appalling, shocking and distressing – in my mind it is attempted murder. Bob is 60 years old, was attacked by three younger men and left to the elements. The DNR and DEQ have approved this mining venture as an “orderly development of state minerals”. The fear and shock reverberating through our small community is something that should make everyone take note. What are the stakes in this project that would lead to such violence against a citizen of this state – unprovoked and at their home? The level of watchfulness of those of us living in the remote areas of the county has definitely ramped up.”
Anyone with any knowledge of this attack should contact the authorities.
News of this disturbing event has reached me, and Kennecott. I wish to express our own sense of disappointment, and condemn those who would see violence as an appropriate means of resolving issues. It is not, and the actions directed at Mr. Pryor over the weekend are intolerable.
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
Mr. Cherry’s hollow response is typical of one who will stop at nothing to gain multi-billion dollar profits for a foreign-owned corporation. Cherry conveniently forgets about Kennecott’s security attempts to close public roads across the Yellow Dog Plains and intimidate people to keep them away. You and Kennecott are a disgrace, Mr. Cherry. You can try all you want to buy the people’s support. We will be bullied no longer by Kennecott or your thugs.
Sincerely,
Doug Cornett
I am appalled and outraged! The unconscionable attack on Mr. Pryor was no accident–it was orchestrated. I am confident that the cowardly hoodlums and the group that organized this will be found and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Therese, Retired Medical Librarian
The attack on Mr. Pryor is a terrible turn of events concerning the Kennecott Mine dispute.
I would offer a $100.00 reward for apprehension of these attackers if Mr. Cherry and Kennecott would agree to match it.
Come on, Mr. Cherry. You guys should be able to cough up $1,000 for the Reward to apprehend these scoundrels. Or how about $10,000? It’s really chump-change for the likes of a guy like you! It shouldn’t need to be matched by retired people living on fixed incomes!
How about it John? Show us some of your Christian compassion!
Sincerely,
Doug Cornett
The unmitigated gall of Jon Cherry to deplore this act of violence is yet another example of his ethical bankruptcy and that of Rio Tintos.
I am sure he will feign innocence and shock. No one should be surprised that this act of violence has occurred. Nor should we be shocked if it escalates. Rio Tintos has a worldwide reputation for using force and coercion to achieve their corporate goals.
Sincerely,
Chip Truscon
Greetings citizens,
I will match Mr. Mukkala’s $100 reward. I would urge other interested parties such as Huron Mountain Club, KBIC, local banks and other vested institutions (that have not been tainted by Kennecott bribery) to contribute to the reward fund for the apprehension of those responsible for the assault on Mr. Pryor.
Sincerely,
Chip Truscon
My heart goes out to Robert and Cynthia. No one deserves this, no one. God blessyou and get well soon. -John Taylor
I will pledge $100 toward an award fund for the apprehension of the persons who attacked Robert Pryor regardless of whether Kennecott matches it.
Let me know if savethewildup wants to manage such a fund. I hope it will grow to a size that will significantly increase the odds of catching and convicting the criminals who injured Bob.
If savethewildup goes ahead with this I will help solicit funds from others.
Don Snitgen
The important comment we await is that of Jennifer Granholm. She takes an oath to protect the citizens of Michigan. Why would she comment? The men who attacked Mr. Pryor, made certain comments that raise to the level of a “hate crime”. A citizen that voices an opinion, or strives to uphold values they hold dear, cannot be held hostage through the threat and actuality of physical violence, ever. Granholm needs to state this in an unequivocal way. Call her office today and tell her so!
I find it in extremely poor taste that a lapdog of Rio Tinto would be the first to post a comment on this issue. Such haste reveals his obvious concern over how this deplorable act of violence would affect his company’s public image. It also makes it very clear that Kennecott monitors this website very closely, so it goes without saying that would Mr. Cherry is aware of the challenge to match Mr. Mukkala’s reward, but chooses to ignore it. If you are sincerely aggrieved by Mr. Pryor’s suffering, then why don’t you put your money where your mouth is Cherry?
This attack on Bob Pryor is a disgrace.
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
The Marquette media coverage of this incident is paltry at best.
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.
and, good call on Cherry being the first to respond… You could pick his response apart all day long. His “concern” for Mr. Pryor is almost sickening.
Cherry’s quote:
“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.
This act of intimidation/and yes, I agree, attempted murder by pro mine supporters(dare we say Kennecott) and needs to be blown wide open in the national/worldwide press.
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.
Wonderful comments!
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
Has WLUC TV6 covered this incident concerning the intimidation of Bob and Cynthia Pryor? It seems to me the press is one sided on the issue. Why do they not have reports from Lansing concerning the hearings on Kennecott and the DEQ? I see them covering stories concerning small communities,(snowmobile trails,the death at Pictured Rocks story,Dead river damn.. etc.)These news stories affect small communities, but the big story has to do with the state goverment bodies selling out to the big mining corporations, which will change the whole community of the Upper Peninsula forever.(for the worse) What is more important?WLUC!!! We are the people you serve!