Lawsuit over the Dakota Access Pipeline protest threatens free speech

March 19, 2025 7:42 AM

Greenpeace vs Big Oil: the case testing free speech in the Trump era [ungated] - "The courthouse in Mandan is currently hearing a case that has become one of the first judicial showdowns over free speech and protest in the second term of Donald Trump."

On trial is the environmental campaign organisation Greenpeace, which is being sued over its role in the Dakota Access pipeline protests by the company that developed the project. Nearly a decade after the demonstrations, the case is finally being heard in front of a jury.

Energy Transfer, the US pipeline group co-founded by the billionaire Kelcy Warren, a donor to President Trump, has accused Greenpeace of fostering the protests — which became one of the largest indigenous and environmental demonstrations in US history — as well as damaging property and injuring its relationship with investors.

...the North Dakota trial has become a high-profile judicial test of free speech under Trump, who has repeatedly lambasted the media and has started to target activists and political opponents... Lawyers and activists argue that, if Energy Transfer is successful, it could set a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech, discouraging not just activism about energy and the climate, but in many other areas too.

“This is one of the most important cases in American history,” says Martin Garbus, a renowned civil rights lawyer who has been monitoring the trial in the Mandan courthouse.

“The law that can come down in this case can affect any demonstration, religious or political,” he says. “It’s far bigger than the environment.”

A $300 Million Lawsuit Is Threatening a Storied Activist Group. You Should Be Worried. - "The First Amendment rights of all Americans are at stake."

posted by kliuless (7 comments total)

Kafue river in Zambia (mostly) dead overnight after a leach poor broke at a Chinese-owned mine

The Copperwood mine proposal creates a similarly direct threat to Lake Superior
posted by jeffburdges at 8:28 AM on March 19 [7 favorites]

I am more than worried. I am afraid.
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 10:12 AM on March 19

Free Speech Absolutistely not for thee!
posted by supermedusa at 11:12 AM on March 19

The jury found Greenpeace liable.
posted by jedicus at 2:20 PM on March 19 [1 favorite]

Jury finds Greenpeace must pay hundreds of millions in case over Dakota Access protest activities - "When asked if Greenpeace plans to appeal, Senior Legal Adviser Deepa Padmanabha said, 'We know that this fight is not over.'"
posted by kliuless at 2:22 PM on March 19 [6 favorites]

I feel like this will just push people towards the Earth Liberation Front or similar organizations. If you're going to get a big boy punishment anyway you may as well commit some big boy crimes.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:30 PM on March 19 [12 favorites]

So much for Sovereign Tribes protecting their land and people from poison. So much for trying to save the planet from frying. Wonder how the grandchildren of the repulsive people at Energy whatever will feel about them, or the worse, the political hacks destroying the 1st amendment.

And Greenpeace had almost nothing to do with this protest. They will be destroyed as an entity fighting those who poison and bake the planet.

Soon it will be illegal in the US to talk about climate change. And I bet my bottom dollar that the POSes at Energy whatever will be going after members (and esp. the Board) of Greenpeace personally as well.
posted by WatTylerJr at 9:49 AM on March 20 [3 favorites]