For the second week in a row, water protectors with the movement to stop Line 3 shut down construction in more places than ever before.
While attempting to protect the rivers from ongoing drilling, some water protectors were brutalized with chemical weapons and rubber bullets. Meanwhile, MN law enforcement has been paid nearly $1.7 M from Line 3 escrow account and water protectors are facing up to $6,000 per water protector for bail if choosing “no conditions.”
Water protectors from the Giniw Collective attempting to protect the Red Lake River from Enbridge drilling were met with mace and tear gas, and were shot with rubber and pepper bullets.
This week was the first time that chemical weapons and “less than lethal” force of this sort have been used by police on the frontlines of Line 3 construction. Watch this video for footage of violence from state and local police. Tara Houska, founder of the Giniw Collective, was among those arrested and hurt by rubber bullets. For media inquiries, contact giniw@protonmail.com.
On Monday, police re-arrested and brutalized water protectors who’d just been released outside of the Pennington County jail. Water protectors staying at the Red Lake Treaty Camp had gathered at the jail to meet the more than 20 people who were arrested the preceding Friday. After people were released, police brutally re-arrested a Red Lake Nation Tribal Member and two others.
The RISE coalition and other water protectors exercised their treaty rights at the headwaters of the Mississippi River. On Wednesday, a White Earth tribal official delivered a cease and desist notice to Enbridge calling on them to stop work and allow Indigenous people to hold a water ceremony at the site. When Enbridge defied the work stoppage, water protectors continued to hold space. On Thursday, 7 were arrested for continuing that ceremony at the headwaters.
Minnesota State House Representatives and Senators authored a letter to the MPCA, calling for more transparency and consistent reporting around drilling-related spills from Line 3 construction. So far, the public is aware of 9 accidental releases of drilling mud from Enbridge’s horizontal directional drilling (HDD), including several incidents at the headwaters of the Mississippi River. These spills, often called “frac-outs,” can seriously harm the health of water ecosystems.
A group from Cheyenne River and Standing Rock ran from North Dakota along the Line 3 pipeline route in a healing prayer run. They stopped at several Line 3 resistance camps, including Red Lake Treaty Camp, Camp Firelight at the headwaters of the Mississippi, and the camp where the Giniw Collective is based.
Here is more experiences from the frontlines.
Water protectors continue to interrupt drilling at the Shell River on Tuesday, “Another day, another drill shut down!” Water protectors with the Giniw Collective crawled into the Line 3 pipeline to stop construction and protect the Shell River last Tuesday.
Water protectors shut down drilling under the Clearwater River on Wednesday, “a brave water protector locked to heavy machinery.”
MORE water protectors shut down drilling at the Clearwater River on Thursday! (use this photo | “no pipelines on stolen land!” On Thursday, four water protectors locked down to drilling equipment near Clearwater River, including a mother and her son led by The Giniw Collective.
Resistance at the rivers is expected to continue in upcoming days.
White Earth Tribal Official orders Enbridge to stop work
Ray Auginash, White Earth Tribal Official, and Dawn Goodwin, co-founder of the RISE Coalition deliver a cease and desist letter to Enbridge)
On Wednesday, a White Earth tribal official in collaboration with the RISE coalition delivered a cease and desist notice to Enbridge calling on them to stop work and allow Indigenous people to hold a water ceremony at the site. When Enbridge defied the work stoppage, water protectors continued to hold space. On Thursday, 7 were arrested for continuing that ceremony at the headwaters.
Minnesota elected officials call for transparency about Line 3 spills
Yet another spill at the Headwaters that will seriously harm the health of this ecosystem.)
Minnesota State House Representatives and Senators authored a letter to the MPCA, calling for more transparency and consistent reporting around drilling-related spills from Line 3 construction. These spills, often called “frac-outs,” can seriously harm the health of water ecosystems.
Again, water protectors are facing up to $6,000 per water protector for bail if choosing “no conditions.”
ONE main Donations for Bail Funds is NOT established.
We will post and share on social media as we see efforts to ask for donations for water protectors for their bail.
