“Greenpeace Ordered to Pay $660 Million for Pipeline Protests in Landmark Ruling”
Following a legal battle, a jury in North Dakota has ruled against Greenpeace in a case brought by the oil and gas pipeline company Energy Transfer. The jury held Greenpeace liable for more than $660 million in damages and defamation related to protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock from 2016 to 2017.
Energy Transfer, based in Dallas, accused Greenpeace of defamation, disruption, and property damage during the protests. This legal victory was seen as a vindication for the residents of Mandan and North Dakota who endured disruptions caused by the protests. Energy Transfer emphasized the importance of distinguishing between free speech rights and illegal actions.
Greenpeace has expressed its intention to appeal the verdict, stating that they cannot afford the hefty financial penalty. They view this ruling as an attempt to silence their activism. Greenpeace argued that Energy Transfer’s lawsuit was a strategic move to suppress public participation and curb freedom of expression. Notably, North Dakota does not have anti-SLAPP laws designed to prevent such lawsuits.
Despite a previous federal lawsuit being dismissed, Energy Transfer pursued legal action in state court, leading to the recent ruling against Greenpeace. Critics have condemned this outcome as an attack on free speech and an abuse of legal processes to stifle dissent.
The damages awarded, totaling approximately $667 million, will be divided among various entities within Greenpeace. The Dakota Access Pipeline continues to operate, despite ongoing opposition from environmental groups and indigenous communities concerned about its impact on the environment and sacred lands.
The protests at Standing Rock garnered national attention and highlighted the ongoing tensions between energy development and environmental activism.
People from all over the country gathered outside the pipeline’s construction site, with even celebrities and notable figures such as current Trump cabinet members Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard making visits to the camp. Veterans also joined the cause in large numbers, providing essential supplies like winter clothing, food, and firewood. Unfortunately, clashes between law enforcement, security personnel, and protesters led to violent confrontations, with tear gas and water cannons being deployed against the demonstrators. The camps were eventually disbanded in February of 2017, resulting in over 140 arrests during the Standing Rock protests. Chase Iron Eyes, one of the protest organizers and an attorney for the Lakota People’s Law Project, was among those arrested and charged with inciting a riot. He expressed his disappointment in attempts to blame Greenpeace for the protests, emphasizing that the fight at Standing Rock was a tribal effort that should not be solely attributed to any one organization. Iron Eyes emphasized the importance of recognizing the agency and concerns of Native Americans who participated in the demonstrations.
