The governor’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

Chisholm lives within walking distance of the Appalachian Trail and just a few miles from the proposed Mountain Valley Pipeline that would extend almost 300 miles from Wetzel County, W.Va., to an existing pipeline hub in Pittsylvania County. He smiled and held a clenched fist in the air as officers from the Virginia Capitol Police escorted him to a tent set up in area cordoned off crime scene tape.

Lee Williams, of Richmond, said she wanted to be arrested because she felt her voice wasn’t being heard through the other means.

“I have testified at water board meetings, talked about cancer clusters and the ill effects of fracking. I’ve called my senators, delegates, local lawmakers. I written letters,” Williams said. “I’ve gotten blank stares. I feel like my voice is not being heard. I’ve tried democracy.”

Instead, the group resorted to an act of civil disobedience. At about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, the group, ranging from college students to an 83-year-old woman, lined up in front off a gate that leads to the governor’s mansion and chanted. They even notified Capitol Police ahead of time saying some of them wanted to be arrested to make their point.