A little before noon on July 7, 2008, activists with Earth First!, an international environmental movement, occupied AMP-Coal headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. Protesters congregated outside by the flagpoles and inside the main lobby. AMP-Coal has been targeted for their plan to build a new coal-fired facility in Meigs County, southeast of Columbus, where four coal-fired facilities are already in existence. Meigs county residents and Earth First! argue that the new project will contribute more pollution to the already poor overall environmental status of the region despite the coal company's pledge to use up-to-date, "clean" coal technology.
These photos and video show the initial non-violent civil disobedience from the protesters and the violent response of the Columbus, Ohio police.