Gov. Kim Reynolds signs “sabotage” bill into law

April 17, 2018 by Emma Schmit
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Link to original article: www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/gov-kim-reynolds-signs-sabotage-bill-into-law-20180417 Coverage by The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, April 17, 2018 Any person who intentionally damages or tries to damage infrastructure deemed critical to the safety and economic well-being of Iowans could face a criminal charge carrying a 25-year prison term and a fine of up to $100,000effective July 1 under legislation signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The bill, Senate File 2235, which was among 11 measures that won gubernatorial approval, would pertain to acts of sabotage committed Continue reading →

Infrastructure “sabotage” bill to governor

April 3, 2018 by Emma Schmit
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Link to article: www.qctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/infrastructure-sabotage-bill-to-governor/article_d94ca722-62b4-5df6-b261-4057c22b4ca9.html Coverage by The Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa, April 3, 2018 Those who intentionally damage or try to damage infrastructure deemed critical to the safety and economic well-being of Iowans could face a criminal charge carrying a 25-year prison term and a fine of up to $100,000 under a bill passed by the Senate on Tuesday and sent to Gov. Kim Reynolds. Senate File 2235, which passed 35-13, would pertain to acts of sabotage committed against critical infrastructure or facilities related to Continue reading →

Pipeline sabotage bill sent to Iowa governor; sponsor says it would go after ‘bad dudes,’ not peaceful protesters

April 3, 2018 by Emma Schmit
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Link to original article: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/04/03/pipeline-sabotage-bill-sent-iowa-gov-reynolds-sponsor-says-would-go-after-bad-dudes-not-peaceful-pro/480319002/ Coverage by The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa, April 3, 2018 Criminal sabotage of Iowa pipelines, telecommunications facilities, water treatment plants and other critical infrastructure could result in long prison sentences and large fines under a measure the Senate sent to Gov. Kim Reynolds Tuesday. Senate File 2235 passed on a 35-13 vote Tuesday. The Iowa House approved it 69-31 earlier. The Republican-led Senate rejected an amendment that would have made it clear the legislation would not ban picketing or other public demonstrations. Sen. Tom Shipley, R-Nodaway, Continue reading →

“Crossing the Divide” Documentary

March 7, 2018 by Shari Hrdina
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A film crew captured this story from the 2017 Climate Justice Unity March. A reactionary Iowa farmer has a change of heart when climate activists march into his tiny town. Disrespect is poisoning American society, jeopardizing informed debate and destabilizing democracy. This is a story about how two groups on either side of the political divide get caught up in a firestorm of disrespect, sparked by a Confederate flag and an attack video funded by a pipeline company. Then, almost miraculously, they find common ground. Their Continue reading →

U.S. Bank Protest in Minneapolis: Activists March Against Pipeline Funding

February 4, 2018 by Ed Fallon
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Link to original article: https://heavy.com/news/2018/02/us-bank-protest-minneapolis-pipeline-photos-super-bowl/ Coverage by Heavy.com, New York, NY, February 3, 2018 Excerpt: Activists Say U.S. Bank Is Still Funding Pipelines By Giving General Financing to ETP & Other Clients Some activists are saying that the bank is still financing the pipelines indirectly. And because of this, hundreds showed up for the protest in Minneapolis the day before the Super Bowl, shutting down an intersection in the city: Hundreds of water protectors just shut down this intersection in Minneapolis, protesting @usbank’s funding of Continue reading →

Iowa pipeline protesters target Super Bowl stadium

February 1, 2018 by Emma Schmit
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Link to original article: www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/2018/02/01/iowa-environmentalists-heading-super-bowl-protest-dakota-access-pipeline/1087402001/ Coverage by The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa, February 1, 2018 Iowa environmentalists will flock to the site of Super Bowl LII this weekend to protest the Dakota Access pipeline. Bold Iowa director Ed Fallon said his group would join Indigenous Iowa and others from across the Midwest to protest the four-state pipeline ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl LII game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The activists are accusing U.S. Bank of financing the $3.8 billion pipeline project, which Continue reading →

Jury finds two protesters guilty of trespass during pipeline construction

October 24, 2017 by Emma Schmit
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Link to original article: http://thegraphic-advocate.com/content/jury-finds-two-protesters-guilty-trespass-during-pipeline-construction Coverage by The Graphic-Advocate, Rockwell City, Iowa, October 24, 2017 A six-person jury deliberated more than two hours Thursday evening before finding a Rockwell City woman and an Omaha man guilty of trespassing on a pipeline construction easement. Emma Schmit, of Rockwell City, and Tosun Mahmud Fitil, of Omaha, said they were disappointed with the verdict, which their attorney plans to appeal. “This is a clear case of the 1 percent versus the 99 percent,” Schmit said, referring to descriptions Continue reading →

Pipeline protester convicted of trespassing

October 4, 2017 by Emma Schmit
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Link to original article: http://thegraphic-advocate.com/content/pipeline-protester-convicted-trespassing Coverage by The Graphic-Advocate, Rockwell City, Iowa, October, 4, 2017 A second person who was arrested last fall for protesting the Dakota Access pipeline has been convicted of trespassing on the work site. A jury convicted Kriss Wells, 65, of Minneapolis, on the misdemeanor charge after a brief deliberation. Five witnesses, including Wells, took the stand in the trial – three were law enforcement officers who testified about how Wells stepped on to the disturbed soil within Dakota Access pipeline’s Continue reading →

Anti-pipeline activists across the country unite to #StopETP

September 11, 2017 by Emma Schmit
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Link to original article: www.wagingnonviolence.org/2017/09/anti-pipeline-activists-stopetp-energy-transfer-partners/ Coverage by Waging Non-Violence, September 11, 2017 The company behind the Dakota Access pipeline and many other damaging fossil fuel projects — Energy Transfer Partners — was the focus of nearly 20 actions spanning 10 U.S. states last week. The #StopETP protests, which took place on Friday and Saturday, included a flotilla on a Louisiana bayou, a blockade of pipeline construction equipment in Pennsylvania and a demonstration outside the Texas home of CEO Kelcy Warren. “It’s been impressive to see Continue reading →