Despite standing up to protect the land, water protectors are being criminalized by the state. We aim to give them their due and share their words.
Today we're hearing from Siihasin Hope, a 25-year-old land defender facing 4 misdemeanor charges. Read on for her story. 🧵
"Defending the water and Mother Earth is neither criminal nor violent. I got involved in the movement to stop Line 3, because I am of the Bitterwater clan in my community, it is my obligation as a Tódích'íí'nii clan member to protect and defend my relatives, such as the Water."
"These charges make life more difficult than it already is. There already is a target on me as I am Indigenous, two spirit and a water protector wherever I go. I'm going to court to get my cases dismissed. Defending the water and Mother Earth is neither criminal nor violent."
"I have found my path into spaces where protectors and land defenders are. I first began by doing my best to be helpful and collecting donations to bring to the frontlines."
"I have strong kinship ties with Anishnaabe territories and peoples, and due to that kinship it is my obligation as a water protector in solidarity with my relatives to stop Extractive Industries, I put my body on the line as I would for my Diné people, my relatives and family."
"Native people all around the world are impacted by the same corporations, capitalist and imperialist system. We are stronger when we rise together because our colonizers are working against us together."
"The state is an embodiment of settler colonialism and white supremacy. It's not new for Native people to protect our relatives and end up against the Settler State, as it steals our relatives, homelands, and bodies. They allow the contamination of Mother Earth in name of greed."
"It's not a coincidence that Native, Black/African, Undocumented, Brown and working class people are in the same struggle. I have to be in solidarity with Water protectors across territories, across borders and across communities. Our struggle intersects, as will our liberation."
"So I move forward, confident as ever, that solidarity is a value we must work towards and show up for time and time again. Not just a saying it but an action and practice."
"It takes discipline and principle to build in solidarity and it takes time to build trust. Continue to center and uplift BIPOC community members, continue to hold us accountable and continue to listen to us as we fight for their lives."
"Join us. Fight individualism, idealization and liberalism in these spaces that so often get co-opted by nonprofits and NGO's. Meet communities where they are at, support the grassroots. Only we can liberate ourselves. Make sure you're being a good relative and comrade."
"Calling for people to support Native water and land protectors facing charges. Support and follow @GiniwCollective and the Coalition calling for #DropTheCharges. Protests, rallies, divest, and organize to stop Extractive Industries and their funders from killing Mother Earth"
Siihasin has asked that you support a dear friend of theirs who needs financial support after a weekslong struggle with COVID-19. You can donate directly to them on the following platforms:
Cashapp: $Seukteoma
Venmo: @/Seukteomaaa
Support defendants in the Line 3 fight like Siihasin and others. Pressure @GovTimWalz and @AGEllison to #DropL3Charges and let the water protectors go free!
Today let's hear from Adam, a 21-year-old water protector in Saint Paul. He's charged with Misdemeanor Trespass.
"I began climate justice work when I got to the Twin Cities in 2018 after many beloved friends and comrades taught me about the already years-long Line 3 fight." 🧵
"I knew that keeping the pipes out of the ground meant more to me than any other action I could take. When construction began, friends and loved ones began taking action up north, I joined them in February and was arrested and held for 72 hours in Beltrami County Jail in April."
"During my arrest I was forced into an ambulance I did not need where I sat handcuffed for 20 minutes before being transferred back to the sheriff's vehicle and brought to jail. My comrades and I received $500 bills from the ambulance company."
New photo: Amy Klobuchar tried to spend the evening mingling with millionaires at a fundraiser.
Flooding in through a service entrance, Line 3 resistors shut it down.
Humiliated, Amy Klobuchar ended her speech and fled the stage.
As long as Amy Klobuchar is complicit in Line 3 destroying her own constituents and her own state, she deserves for her events to be shut down. Full stop.
Here’s the beautiful & dramatic video capturing the confrontation:
BREAKING: @SenAmyKlobuchar was just confronted at a fundraising event by a group of water protectors who SHUT DOWN her speech.
When faced with Indigenous youth questioning her inaction on Line 3, she rolled her eyes, tried to interrupt, and eventually fled the stage. #StopLine3
@SenAmyKlobuchar This isn't the first time that @amyklobuchar has been confronted on her Line 3 stance. This has happened several times already.
What's remarkable is that every single time, her response is to run away.
Amy must hate this. It's like she can't have a single expensive private event for big-money donors without it being rudely interrupted by the people her policies are killing.
The worst part is, she could end this anytime. She could come out and say #StopLine3, but she won't.
Wondering what's happening lately in the movement to #StopLine3?
Here's what's been going on in the last month. REad on for the updates. 🧵
While boring through the Mississippi River headwaters, @Enbridge spilled large quantities of drilling mud and industrial chemicals into the ecosystem. Months later, heavy rains are revealing the extent of the ecological devastation caused by the company’s negligence.
For reference- here’s a comparison of the Mississippi River headwaters before and after Line 3.
Credit to WCMCoop for the first photo and Ron Turney for the second.
Update: we will occupy the Capitol en masse. And we will hold the ground as long as it takes. Join us and share widely. #PeopleVsFossilfuels
Update: we are right now blockading the road to the Capitol. Police swarming in by the dozen. Youth climate activists holding the ground with fierceness & with love.
Update: police preparing to make arrests in the streets. They just issued the third and final warning. Paddy wagons have arrived on the scene. Follow along for live updates as this develops.