Author Archives: Ed Fallon

Demand Politicians, Not Taxpayers, Pay Lawsuit Settlement

Click here to sign petition. We call on Iowa Senate Republicans to pay the $2.2 million tab to settle Kirsten Anderson’s sexual harassment lawsuit. On July 18, a Polk County jury rightfully ruled in Kirsten’s favor. But taxpayers shouldn’t pay for the sexually inappropriate and demeaning behavior of a handful of politicians and their staff. Demand that Senate Majority Leader Bill Dix (R-Shell Rock) and the Iowa Republican Party pay the settlement fee.

Another Pipeline??

Dear Friends, This week, two Boone County landowners contacted me when they noticed a large amount of pipe arriving at the staging area used last year to stockpile materials for the Dakota Access pipeline. Ever suspicious of Dakota Access’ activities and motives, folks in Boone County were rightfully on guard. So, I dug into it a bit. I contacted officials with both the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). I learned that the pipe is for the Northern Natural Gas (NNG) Continue reading →

Iowa Pipeline Fighter Found Guilty, Will File Appeal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8:00 a.m. CT, July 7, 2017 Contact: Ed Fallon, Bold Iowa, 515-238-6404, [email protected] or Brenda Brink, Bakken Pipeline Resistance Coalition, 515-203-9389, [email protected] Iowa Pipeline Fighter Found Guilty, Will File Appeal  Ruling in Heather Pearson’s trial ignores justification defense Rockwell City, IA — Heather Pearson, a resident of Logan, Iowa and a Dakota Access pipeline opponent who was arrested on October 29, 2016 during nonviolent direct action to stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline on Shirley Gerjets’ property in Calhoun County, was Continue reading →

Pipeline Fighter to File Appeal

Late yesterday afternoon, Heather Pearson was found guilty of trespass for her brave stand against the Dakota Access Pipeline last fall. Among the many hats she wears, Heather is Bold Iowa’s Director of Rabble Rousing and is never shy about leading songs or chants during rallies and marches. Yesterday, seated with her attorney, Channing Dutton, in a courtroom in Rockwell City, Heather comported herself with dignity and clarity on the witness stand and talking with reporters after the verdict was read. Here’s the press release Continue reading →

NoDAPL Rally, Concert and Call to Action: Pictures and Video

Indigenous Iowa and Bold Iowa organized a NoDAPL Rally, Concert and Call to Action on the south steps of the Iowa Capitol on July 1, 2017. Many powerful Native and non-Native speakers shared words of inspiration and music, including classical guitarist, Gabriel Ayala. Click here for NoDAPL Rally, Concert and Call to Action Photo Album   Bold Iowa and Indigenous Iowa Still #NoDapl Summary Video by Rodger Routh Click on the links below to view additional video excerpts… Gabriel Ayala speaks and plays at NoDAPL rally Gabriel Continue reading →

Company Spying on Pipeline Opponents Operated Without License

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday 3:00 p.m. CT, June 29, 2017 Contact: Ed Fallon, Bold Iowa: 515-238-6404 or [email protected] Company Spying on Pipeline Opponents Operated Without License Analysis suggests TigerSwan guilty of a serious misdemeanor Des Moines, Iowa — Conversations with two Iowa Department of Public Safety (IDPS) officials (Amber Markham and Ross Loder) and preliminary analysis of relevant records show that TigerSwan, the para-military security firm hired by Dakota Access to spy on pipeline opponents, operated in Iowa without a license for at least six Continue reading →

Iowa Woman Arrested Stopping Dakota Access Construction on Iowa Landowner’s Property Taken by Eminent Domain to Plead “Not Guilty,”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 28, 2017 Contact: Ed Fallon, Bold Iowa: 515-238-6404, [email protected] Iowa Woman Arrested Stopping Dakota Access Construction on Iowa Landowner’s Property Taken by Eminent Domain to Plead “Not Guilty,” Citing “Climate Emergency” Justification for Trespassing Bold Iowa’s “Farmer Defense Camp” was established with permission on eminent domain holdout landowner Shirley Gerjets’ property, a first of its kind in Dakota Access pipeline fight Rockwell City, IA — Heather Pearson, a resident of Logan, Iowa and Water Protector who was arrested in October 2016 during Continue reading →

Pipeline Opponents to Gov Reynolds: Appoint New IUB Member

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1:00 p.m. CT, June 14, 2017 Contact: Ed Fallon at 515-238-6404 or [email protected] Contact: Christine Nobiss at 319-331-8034 or [email protected] Pipeline Opponents to Gov Reynolds: Appoint New IUB Member July 1 action at the State Capitol announced Des Moines, Iowa — In light of Iowa Utilities Board member Richard W. Lozier, Jr.’s statement today that he is recusing himself from any votes or even discussion of the Dakota Access pipeline, Bold Iowa and Indigenous Iowa called on Governor Kim Reynolds to remove Continue reading →

DAPL reprimanded for failure to file detail on insurance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4:00 p.m. CT, June 9, 2017 Contact: Ed Fallon: 515-238-6404, or [email protected] DAPL reprimanded for failure to file detail on insurance Des Moines, Iowa — Bold Iowa responded today to the order released this afternoon by the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) regarding Dakota Access’ failure to file “accurate, up-to-date information regarding the insurance for this pipeline,” according to the IUB’s order. Read the complete IUB order here. “At first, Dakota Access tried to get out of any meaningful insurance policy whatsoever,” pointed Continue reading →

Pipeline opponent “guilty,” but trial sets precedent for justification defense

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2017 Contact: Kriss Wells: 563-289-3635, [email protected] Carolyn Raffensperger: 515-450-2320, [email protected] Ed Fallon: 515-238-6404, [email protected] Pipeline opponent “guilty,” but trial sets precedent for justification defense Boone, Iowa — Kriss Wells (pictured below), a long-time resident of the Quad Cities and a retired social worker, received a verdict of “guilty” in a jury trial today at the Boone County Courthouse. Wells was one of thirty pipeline opponents charged with trespass on August 31, 2016 while blocking vehicles from leaving or entering a Continue reading →