'Treating protest as terrorism': US plans crackdown on Keystone XL activists

[Equinox Moon]

Source: Guardian

Documents suggest an aggressive response to possible protests against the oil pipeline amid fears of another Standing Rock.

The government has characterized pipeline opponents like her as “extremists” and violent criminals and warned of potential “terrorism”, according to recently released records.
Life on the Keystone XL route: where opponents fear the ‘black snake’
Read more

The documents suggested that police were organizing to launch an aggressive response to possible Keystone protests, echoing the actions against the Standing Rock movement in North Dakota. There, officers engaged in intense surveillance and faced widespread accusations of excessive force and brutality.

“We have to stay one step ahead at all times,” said Cheek, a Hunkpapa and Oglala Lakota activist and teacher. “History is repeating itself.”

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/20/keystone-pipeline-protest-activism-crackdown-standing-rock

[saidsimplesimon]

1. Nothing new here

Banishing Native Americans to settle white people like me in areas for farming food and cattle was not enough. Now, we wish to pollute those tribal lands claiming imminent domain for oil companies and mining interests.

I am ashamed to think that centuries later we are still committing genocide and financial rape of a native population. Is this who we always were? "For the times they are a changing".

[Thekaspervote]

3. I'm so sorry!! It makes me ashamed

[BumRushDaShow]

2. "warned of potential "terrorism""

Sorry but the First Amendment doesn't just apply to "corporation-people".

And they need to start looking at the REAL "domestic terrorists" who they courted to vote for the current administration.

[Thekaspervote]

4. If they get away with this, they will soon be using the same force against peaceful protests

Around the country!

[The Liberal Lion]

6. Indeed

And if the current state of resistance is any indicator they will get away with this, and it will broaden to include all protest. We are in sick and dangerous times my friend.

[jalan48]

5. Good to see Democrats speaking out forcefully against this.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. 1st Felony Arrests Near Bayou Bridge Construction Made Under New LA Law Penalizing Pipeline Trespass

Karen Savage, an award-winning investigative reporter, did not expect to be arrested as she covered Energy Transfer Partners’ controversial construction of the Bayou Bridge pipeline through Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin, a river swamp bigger than the Florida Everglades.

“We were on land that the pipeline company doesn’t even claim to have,” she said, adding that she had permission in writing from the property owner to be there. “I didn’t think there was really any risk at all.”

Savage, a freelance reporter who teaches at the City University of New York’s graduate school of journalism, has previously covered the BP oil spill and environmental justice issues. Truthout describes her as “embedded” with L’eau Est La Vie protest camp, which opposes the pipeline.

She now faces “critical infrastructure” trespass charges, as do over half a dozen others recently arrested near Bayou Bridge construction. These felony charges come under a newly minted Louisiana law modeled after “critical infrastructure” laws in other states, which have been criticized as efforts to criminalize oil and gas pipeline protests.

https://www.desmogblog.com/2018/08/22/louisiana-law-bayou-bridge-pipeline-trespass-energy-transfer-partners

Even having the landowner's permission won't help you. Oil trumps property rights, freedom of protest, and freedom of the press. They're using the constitution as a rag in a gas-filled Molotov cocktail.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Thanks. n/t