Mining activities in Latin America have increased dramatically over the last decades, causing increased social resistance over the past years. Yet, patterns of social resistance against mining projects differ considerably both within and across countries, as well as over time. This paper studies how power dynamics between regions and the center affect both the occurrence of anti-mining protest, as well as the dynamics of mining protests over time. We argue that decentralization can help balance the local benefits and costs of mining activities, making it more likely that grievances related to mining are addressed. Our analysis focuses on three Andean countries: Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, and introduces novel subnational data on mining protests between 2000 and 2013. We show that projected mines in the pre-production stage increase the likelihood of protest onset, while a lack of decentralization is associated with sustained protest against active mines. Our study highlights the potential of political institutions in mitigating mining conflicts.