1/ Today water protector Jessica Reznicek self-reported to the Waseca Federal Correctional Facility to begin serving her 8 year prison sentence for the actions she took to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. Jessica spent the week leading up to her imprisonment emotionally preparing
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with her spiritual community. When asked how she felt she said:
“Today I feel sad to be saying my final goodbyes to loved ones. I am strengthened, however, knowing that I’m still standing with integrity during this very important moment in history, as
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there truly is no other place to be standing at a time like this.”
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Jessica’s harsh sentence was the result of a domestic terrorism enhancement that federal prosecutors are increasingly using against water protectors and climate justice activists who endanger the fossil fuel industries profits.
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Jessica is still actively pursuing an appeal. Her lead attorney Bill Quigley gave an update: “The legal team is working hard on this appeal to challenge the length of the sentence and to reverse the terrorism enhancement.
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“A number of environmental organizations have agreed to consider signing onto amicus or friend of the court briefs supporting Jessica. The deadline for filing briefs is currently August 19 but we expect that will be pushed back at least a month.”
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Jessica and her support team are asking the public to sign this petition to take a stand against the criminalization of water protectors. So far over 5,600 have signed along over 50 organizations including @VFPNational,
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@MN_350, @NGLNews National Lawyers Guild, @codepink, @CCAN Chesapeake Climate Action Network, @VetsAboutFace, and @ProtestLaw Center for Protest Law and Litigation.
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A statement from the support team read, “It is important to highlight this moment. Only days ago the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released their most dire report yet, calling it a code red for humanity.
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“We’re in a moment when scientists, indigenous people, and global ecosystems sound the alarm, and over a dozen state governments in the US introduce critical infrastructure bills targeting pipeline protestors under the guise of ‘national security.’
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“A moment when the sheriffs and police in Minnesota arrest over 600 people fighting to stop the Line 3 pipeline and charge 100 with the new critical infrastructure laws & dozens more with felonies. A moment when a federal judge orders Jessica Reznicek to pay $3.2 million in
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“restitution to a fossil fuel corporation responsible for building a world that humans cannot survive in, a moment when, today, Jessica reports to prison to start an 8 year sentence labeled a terrorist by Joe Biden’s Department of Justice.
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“What happens to Jessica, happens to all of us!
“In this moment we must unequivocally tell Joe Biden protecting water is never terrorism. Acting on clear directives from climate science with direct action is never terrorism.”
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When life on this planet is under attack, as Jessica says “there truly is no other place to be standing at a time like this.”
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Add your name to this petition for #WaterProtectors Jessica Reznicek:
actionnetwork.org/petitions/prot…
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For more information on Jessica’s case and to continue to support Jessica visit this website: supportjessicareznicek.com
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If you are on organization that would like to add your name to the petition or support team fill out this form: forms.gle/EVP17qvNmgp5AY…
Photo credit: Christina Yurena Zerr
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