In recent weeks, dozens of federal lawmakers have called on President Biden to stop the Line 3 pipeline from flowing tar sands oil through Anishinaabe treaty lands in northern Minnesota. This weekend, “Squad” members Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, and Cori Bush even traveled to Minnesota to meet Indigenous water protectors on the Line 3 frontline and call on Biden to halt the project.[1]
President Biden can still revoke Enbridge’s federal permits to construct this harmful pipeline, but he needs to hear why this pipeline fight matters to Minnesotans and water protectors around the country. So far, Minnesota Democrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith have not spoken up about the Line 3 pipeline. However, they have the power to lead. They have the power to speak on behalf of Minnesotans and water protectors everywhere, and to call on Joe Biden to stop Line 3.
Since 2014, thousands of people have shown up at hearings, called on elected officials, and demonstrated peacefully to oppose Enbridge’s Line 3 tar sands oil pipeline. Since construction began last year, more than 800 water protectors have been arrested for protesting on the frontlines.
Line 3 threatens our climate, water, and land, and would undermine the Indigenous treaty rights of the Anishinaabe people. Enbridge’s route crosses the 1854, 1855, and 1863 treaty territory where Anishinaabe people retain the right to hunt, fish, gather medicines, and harvest wild rice. The impact of construction - or worse, an oil spill - would permanently damage their ability to exercise these rights. The proposed route for Line 3 crosses 227 lakes and rivers, including the Mississippi River and rivers that feed directly into Lake Superior, putting those waterways at risk of a spill from the 760,000 barrels of tar sands oil that would flow through Line 3 every day.
Now is the time for our elected officials to take bold action for the future of the climate. We need Senators like Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith to join us on the right side of history. Please, take a few moments and write to them today!
Thank for you taking action,
Stop Line 3 Team
[1] https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/09/03/omar-other-squad-members-appeal-to-biden-on-pipeline
'Your struggle is our struggle' : Progressive 'Squad' stands in solidarity with Line 3 opponents at Lake Bemidji
On Saturday, members of the progressive Congressional "Squad," including Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar, MN-5, Cori Bush, MO-1, Ayanna Pressley, MA-7 and Rashida Tlaib, MI-13, visited Bemidji to stand in unity with opponents of the Enbridge Line 3 replacement project.
Press Conference in Bemidji MN with leaders of the Red Lake Band, White Earth Nation as well as water Protectors on September 4, 2021