Three Earth First! activists that locked down to equipment on the construction site of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Brainerd were released Thursday afternoon from the County Jail.
They were charged with criminal trespassing and have a court date set for Wednesday, July 2.
The activists participated in "a non-violent direct action" early Thursday morning to protest the construction of a new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Brainerd.
They said, "If completed, the Wal-Mart Supercenter will detract from the integrity of the Brainerd community. This last green space in Brainerd is used as a migratory stop for 180 species of birds in Tennessee, about 45% of the total population of birds in Tennessee.
"Also, a wetlands ecosystem is being destroyed because of the silt and runoff from the construction."
Earth First! activists said they "used direct action to get the attention of Mayor Corker, Councilman Littlefield, and developer Bill Henderson because these men have been ignoring the public outcries to stop this development. The Coalition for Responsible Progress has tried to file an injunction to halt construction while experts study the wetlands, but Mayor Corker has refused to grant them one. The city of Chattanooga and its people do not want or need another Wal-Mart Supercenter and will continue their protest to the construction of this useless store."
One activist who was arrested is still in jail for charges unrelated to the action or to Earth First! He failed to tell other activists about these outstanding charges before the action, and, because of that, was unable to be bonded out with the other three activists, it was stated.
The group said, "Civil disobedience has been used throughout the history of our country when citizens are ignored by the government and the power-hungry corporations that run it. Earth First! activists joined in that tradition yesterday to express their discontent of the destruction of the last green space in Brainerd. Earth First! activists will continue to protest the construction in solidarity with the community of Chattanooga unless the city grants the public what they want: No Wal-Mart Supercenter in Brainerd!"