1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: This episode includes instances of police violence, harassment, racism, and assault. 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:09,320 Speaker 1: Please take care while listening. 3 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 2: Me Daku Yappi Kihani wash day Chante wash Dae napitch 4 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: Shu zapi Ohitika Wei Miana and white Hat Machiapikshto relatives, 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,439 Speaker 2: I greet you today with a heartfelt handshake in my 6 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 2: beautiful Lakota language. I'm ci Chango la Kota from Rosebud, 7 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 2: South Dakota and a resident of the state of Louisiana 8 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 2: as a mother. I never intended to get arrested. However, 9 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 2: on September eighteenth, twenty eighteen, I was arrested and charged 10 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 2: with two felony counts under new amendments to Louisiana's Critical 11 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 2: Infrastructure Law. I was facing up to ten years in prison. 12 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 2: I was told that I was being arrested for trespassing 13 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 2: two weeks prior on remote land being worked on by 14 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 2: the pipeline company in the Ahafalaya Basin, despite my having 15 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: the express permission of the landowners to peacefully protest there. 16 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: That was Anne white Hat testifying last year at a 17 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: concour Rational Subcommittee hearing on free speech and a legal 18 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: assault on environmental activists and the first Amendment. Anne is 19 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: a co founder of louis Levi Water is Life, a 20 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: South Louisiana resistance camp founded in twenty seventeen to resist 21 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: energy transfers by you Bridge Pipeline. Just make sure you 22 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,960 Speaker 1: caught the significance of what she was saying there. She 23 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: and a handful of other folks were arrested for trespassing 24 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 1: and assaulted in the process, as you'll hear later in 25 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: this episode, except they had permission to be on that land, 26 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: written permission from the landowners, but someone was trespassing. 27 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 2: A Louisiana state court later ruled that it was in 28 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: fact the pipeline company that was trespassing. Yet we were 29 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 2: the ones brutally assaulted and arrested that day and then 30 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:56,360 Speaker 2: the weeks following by the same uniformed sheriff's deputies working 31 00:01:56,480 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 2: privately for the pipeline company, and also by pipeline workers themselves. 32 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: Over a dozen of us have for several years had 33 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: the possibility of lengthy prison sentences hanging over our heads. 34 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 1: This is something we've seen over and over again while 35 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: reporting this season. Even when a wrongful arrest or conviction 36 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: is ultimately overturned, so much damage happens in the meantime, 37 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: a lot of it irreparable. In Anne white Hat's case, 38 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 1: she was arrested at a boat ramp after leading a 39 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 1: prayer ceremony. 40 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 2: It was very stressful to have those charges hanging over 41 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,960 Speaker 2: my head for three years, and constant like every day 42 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: wondering if they're going to come knocking on the door 43 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:41,519 Speaker 2: to take me to jail, and having to make plans 44 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 2: for my children. 45 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: The United States likes to portray itself as the land 46 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 1: of the Free, founded on an unshakable belief in the 47 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: right to protest one's government, but the reality is often 48 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: much different. In fact, in many states, anyone participating in 49 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 1: the Boston tea party today could be arrested on felony trespassing. 50 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: After all, ports are considered critical infrastructure. Paul Revere might 51 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: be charged with civil or even criminal racketeering for conspiring 52 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: against the British. We'll learn more about racketeering in an 53 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: upcoming episode, but for now, let's go back a few 54 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: years to some of the most pristine old growth cypress 55 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: forests deep in the swamps of Louisiana, a state with 56 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 1: a reputation for being particularly cozy with the fossil fuel industry. 57 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: The activist group Louis la Ville was founded in twenty 58 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: seventeen by four Indigenous women to oppose the construction of 59 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: the Bayou Bridge pipeline. That's the southern leg of the 60 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: Dakota Access Pipeline or DAPPLE. It's the same pipeline that 61 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: thousands of people were protesting against up north at the 62 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation in twenty sixteen. Bayebridge had 63 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: plenty of lowcal opposition. The pipeline cuts through more than 64 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: seven hundred bodies of water, including the Chafalaya Basin, the 65 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: largest river swamp in North America, and by La Forche, 66 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: the drinking water source for the United Huma Nation. There 67 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: were contentious public hearings putting industry aligned speakers against craw fishermen, 68 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:26,960 Speaker 1: environmental organizations, and just everyday Louisiana's concerned for nature and 69 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:28,280 Speaker 1: their drinking water. 70 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 3: Look, when you're going into something like this and you 71 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 3: are in an area that is hostile to people who 72 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,239 Speaker 3: are trying to protect the environment, I've seen it's something 73 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 3: that's trying someone who's trying to stop progress or to 74 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 3: take away jobs. It would be foolish to go straight 75 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 3: to you know, any kind of direct action. 76 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: Shari Futlin is another Lowelevey co founder and an Indigenous 77 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: mother of six who at the time lived seven miles 78 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 1: from the pipeline route. 79 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 3: We went to the governor every week four months. We 80 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 3: would all show up, all the people from these communities, 81 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 3: all of us. 82 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:06,720 Speaker 4: We would be there every. 83 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 3: Wednesday, I think it was, and we would have. 84 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 4: A press conference. 85 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 3: We tried to talk to the governor. 86 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 4: He never talked to us. 87 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 3: We did get a chance to talk to his underlings, 88 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 3: like they had sent the DQ people, environment Department, Environmental 89 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 3: Quality people to talk to us and things like that, 90 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:24,480 Speaker 3: but we never got decision makers. We never got the 91 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 3: people with the teeth that could make the decision. We 92 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 3: had public hearings and overwhelmingly people said no, they cannot 93 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 3: want this pipeline, but it didn't matter. It got approved anyway. 94 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 3: What do you do when you have exercised every bit 95 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:42,839 Speaker 3: of the channels that they tell you to go through 96 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 3: in order to affect changing your community and find out 97 00:05:46,360 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 3: that it is entirely a farce, that you don't have 98 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,039 Speaker 3: the money and the power to say that you want 99 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 3: to protect your community, or protect your water or even 100 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 3: protect your children. 101 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 4: Well, then that leaves you with very else space in 102 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 4: which to move. 103 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: Pipeline construction began in January of twenty eighteen, and a 104 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: few months later Loi le V Water Protectors engaged in 105 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: non violent direct actions against the project. They started out 106 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 1: just trying to block parts of the route and in 107 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:19,239 Speaker 1: some pretty lighthearted ways. 108 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 3: Really in the beginning there, we just had a lot 109 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 3: of fun, Like we would just have beach parties and 110 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 3: we would have dance parties, and you know, I remember 111 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 3: us bringing donuts to the workers and things like that, 112 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 3: and we would we did a we did a Crawfish 113 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 3: to Musical show on the easement that the oil workers 114 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 3: actually pick apploids. 115 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 4: So I'm just saying creativity and listening. 116 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 5: I think we're the number one things. 117 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 3: I'm just trying to educate people on what it meant 118 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 3: to protect our waters. 119 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: And we just so happened to have some tape from 120 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: Crawfish to the Musical. By the way, when folks say 121 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,119 Speaker 1: oil with a cage and accent, sometimes sounds like earl. 122 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 6: So we're out here at a at a work stoppage, 123 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 6: and you are just in time to be a part 124 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 6: of Crawfish the musical. 125 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 5: We got tickets for. 126 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 3: Free for you. 127 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 7: We reached out to your boss, Kelsey Warren asked him, 128 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 7: if you wanted to buy your tickets please piece. 129 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 3: The biggest piece of crap we know. He said no, Ray, 130 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 3: So we decided. 131 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 8: To give you tickets on the house. 132 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 2: If you contract with ETP, your ticket is free, free, free. 133 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 9: There Earn dun, I'm here to build the buy you bridge, pipeworn. 134 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 8: No, no, get out of here, Crawfish. We hate you, earl. 135 00:07:58,040 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 6: Well there you have it, Crawfish the Musical, y'all. 136 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: As we learned from Connor Gibson in the first episode 137 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:16,080 Speaker 1: of this season. By this time, the fossil fuel industry 138 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: was working hard behind the scenes to stifle this kind 139 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: of opposition. With the help of the American Fuel and 140 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 1: petrochemical Manufacturers, the trade group representing refineries, pipelines and petrochemical plants, 141 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 1: plus the American Legislative Exchange Council or ALEC, which works 142 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: to pass industry friendly state legislation, they were successfully changing 143 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 1: laws in several states. What would have been misdemeanor trespassing 144 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:49,800 Speaker 1: charges were now felonies, and pipelines were designated as critical 145 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: infrastructure in Louisiana, the industry's influence was out in the open. 146 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 1: The bill was drafted by a guy named Tyler Gray, 147 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: an attorney with the Louisiana mid Continental Oil and Gas Association, 148 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 1: the Louisiana Trade Group four fossil fuel companies. When it 149 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: was introduced by state Representative Major A. Abou Junior, Gray 150 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: sat right next to him, answering lawmaker's questions. The bill 151 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 1: passed and was eventually signed into law by Louisiana Governor 152 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: John belt Edwards. It went into effect August first, twenty eighteen. 153 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,959 Speaker 1: As Anne Whitehat pointed out in her congressional testimony, it 154 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,360 Speaker 1: didn't just criminalize activists. 155 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 2: The coordinated attack on our movement also included efforts to 156 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,480 Speaker 2: silence the journalists who risk their safety and well being 157 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:46,679 Speaker 2: to tell the world about what was happening to us. 158 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: Our reporter Karen Savage was one of those journalists. She'll 159 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: be here to tell that story and the rest of 160 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: the Bye Bridge story after this quick break. I'mmmy Westervelt 161 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: and this is drilled the real fre speech threat. When 162 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: Karen Savage went to Louisiana to see what was happening 163 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: with the Bye Bridge pipeline, protests. She was there as 164 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,840 Speaker 1: a reporter, but that didn't stop police and pipeline security 165 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,319 Speaker 1: from treating her exactly like they did the protesters. 166 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,480 Speaker 7: So I learned about the Buye Bridge pipeline from Shirry Foytlin, 167 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 7: who i'd known, you know, before this happened. Was twenty seventeen, 168 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:33,680 Speaker 7: and I didn't get down there to start reporting until 169 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:36,480 Speaker 7: about twenty eighteen. And honestly, in the beginning it was 170 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 7: really fairly slow. There were some little actions, nothing hugely remarkable. 171 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 7: Until one day in April, I was actually kind of bored. 172 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 7: I was driving around. There was a pipeline site west 173 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 7: of the basin that I had been told went by 174 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 7: a historic black church, and so it was a Sunday, 175 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:56,959 Speaker 7: and I said, let me drive by and see, you 176 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:59,640 Speaker 7: know what this looks like. So I went out there 177 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 7: and I by the church, and by the time I 178 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 7: got there, there was nobody around. It was Sunday, there 179 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 7: was no work happening. There were a few cars parked 180 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:10,079 Speaker 7: near the church, but nothing at all was happening. So 181 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 7: I drove around the block. But it's rural Louisiana, so 182 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,199 Speaker 7: it was like the block was like a mile on 183 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 7: each side. Came around the other direction and was coming 184 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:23,679 Speaker 7: back towards the church parallel to the pipeline on this 185 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:25,240 Speaker 7: little bitty narrow road. 186 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 5: Nobody else was around. It was peaceful. I had been 187 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 5: taking pictures of birds and it was like the Golden Hour. 188 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,559 Speaker 7: And I was, honestly at that point, not interested in 189 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 7: the pipeline. I had a million pictures of pipeline construction 190 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:40,079 Speaker 7: sites that I already wasn't using. So anyway, I was 191 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:42,360 Speaker 7: just driving, honestly on my way home at that point. 192 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 10: When this car came at me on this little narrow road. 193 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 7: There were deep ditches on both sides, and I thought 194 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 7: that it was going to hit me head on, and 195 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,079 Speaker 7: I'm like, okay, this is it. You know, there's nobody 196 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 7: around to see the crash, so I hope some of 197 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 7: these guys survive and you can call somebody for me. 198 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 5: But they didn't hit me. 199 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 7: They did want those sideways stop things that cars do, 200 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 7: and out jump these two guys, and I could tell 201 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 7: at that point that there was some type of law enforcement. 202 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,840 Speaker 7: It was a police type vehicle, and they came up 203 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 7: to me with their hands like on their holsters and demanded, 204 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 7: what are you doing? 205 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:20,839 Speaker 5: Why are you here. Who are you working for? And 206 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:23,079 Speaker 5: I didn't know what to say. 207 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 7: I'm here alone with these guys, so I just said, okay, 208 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,079 Speaker 7: what agency are you from? And they were just kept 209 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 7: asking me the same questions overall over again. At one 210 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 7: point I said, do you want to see my license? 211 00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 7: Because I kind of assumed I had, like not stopped 212 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:39,079 Speaker 7: or something. But no, they never wanted my license. They 213 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 7: ran the plate of the car, and I know they 214 00:12:43,160 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 7: used police gear because I could hear somebody on the 215 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 7: other end and say, yeah, it's a rental from b 216 00:12:47,559 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 7: Lafayette and I had just picked up the rental car 217 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:52,959 Speaker 7: that morning actually, so you know, this went on for 218 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 7: it seemed like forever because it was just me and 219 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,840 Speaker 7: these guys with guns on a little remote Louisiana road. 220 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 7: I could tell they had a badge and it was 221 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 7: shaped in the state of Louisiana, but I had no 222 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:05,199 Speaker 7: idea what agency they were with. 223 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 5: They were not telling me. 224 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,559 Speaker 7: I couldn't tell Forests Parish, if it was state whatever. 225 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,440 Speaker 7: So eventually I guess they got tired of me. They 226 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,839 Speaker 7: just told me, Okay, you need to leave now. So 227 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:18,800 Speaker 7: they jumped back in their car and drove away. You know, 228 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:20,959 Speaker 7: kind of did a little three point turn and went 229 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 7: the same direction I was going, so they were ahead 230 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 7: of me. Luckily, I had just gotten a new zoom lens, 231 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 7: so I got a picture of the plate, and when 232 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 7: I got back to my computer, I messaged a couple 233 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 7: of friends and finally found somebody who could run the plate. 234 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:38,079 Speaker 7: And it took a while, but the plate came back 235 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 7: to the State of Louisiana Department of Corrections. 236 00:13:41,360 --> 00:13:42,800 Speaker 5: So this is really weird. 237 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:43,440 Speaker 11: Why is the. 238 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,599 Speaker 7: Department of Corrections chasing me around near this pipeline? So 239 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:52,319 Speaker 7: I did some records requests in late June figured out 240 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:56,599 Speaker 7: that the DOC Department of Corrections had allowed probation and 241 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 7: parole officers to work side jobs for the pipeline CP. 242 00:14:00,520 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 5: It actually gave me a really big break in the story. 243 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,199 Speaker 7: So eventually there was other reporting that had happened on it, 244 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 7: and the DC changed their mind. They revoked the permission 245 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 7: and those guys weren't allowed to work anymore. But during 246 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:17,559 Speaker 7: an interview, the head of that agency had told me, yeah, 247 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 7: I think the Saint Martin Parish Sheriff's Department will. 248 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 5: Be doing the work now. So, my mom, this is interesting. 249 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 7: So I did records requests and eventually figured out that 250 00:14:28,840 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 7: that was true. 251 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:32,840 Speaker 5: The deputies were working, got the time sheets. 252 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 7: And could piece together based on who I saw, and 253 00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 7: had pictures of the salon and the swamp on what 254 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 7: days that almost none of the deputies that I saw 255 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 7: in the swamp or near protest sites were actually working 256 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 7: for the parish. In fact, almost all of the arrests 257 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 7: were made by deputies who were looking like full deputies. 258 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 5: Mind you, they had the. 259 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 7: Guns on, they had the uniform, they had the you know, 260 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:02,880 Speaker 7: parish issued gear, but they were not working for the 261 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 7: parish at the time. 262 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 5: They were working for the pipeline company. 263 00:15:06,720 --> 00:15:10,400 Speaker 1: At one point, the water protectors actually won a court injunction. 264 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 1: The court ruled that the pipeline building should stop until 265 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: some of the land rights issues were sorted out. Shari 266 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: Futlin and other water protectors from Lois Lev took papers 267 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:24,120 Speaker 1: from the court to the pipeline site. 268 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,520 Speaker 4: The police show up right and because we're there and 269 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 4: we're telling them. 270 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 3: Hey, it's time to stop, we give them the paperwork, 271 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 3: the court paperwork, and the first policeman says, okay, guys, 272 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 3: you got to stop, but this is a judge's order. 273 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 3: And another policemen higher than him, that it had been 274 00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:42,000 Speaker 3: hired by etpe I Guarantee. 275 00:15:42,120 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 4: Because they were all on the pay road, they were 276 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 4: getting paid well. 277 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 3: They came in and said no, they can keep going, 278 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 3: and they kicked us out and I ended up getting 279 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 3: asked at that day. 280 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: Remember, the new critical Infrastructure laws were due to come 281 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 1: into effect in Louisiana in just a couple months on 282 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: August first, twenty. 283 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 10: Eighteen, and as that August first day grew closer and closer, 284 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 10: tension just rose and rose. By that time, all of 285 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 10: the construction and attempts to stop the construction were deep 286 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 10: in the swamp. And it's gorgeous out there, by far 287 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 10: the most beautiful places I've ever reported, from sunsets. 288 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 12: Birds, trees. If you're out in the water at night, 289 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 12: all you see is the red eyes of the gators. 290 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 12: There are armadillos, they're wild boars. It's an amazing place, 291 00:16:27,760 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 12: but it's also super remote. The only way you are 292 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 12: out is by boat. There's almost no cell phone reception. 293 00:16:33,640 --> 00:16:37,280 Speaker 12: Contractors on the fanboats, pipeliners. Anybody out there by August 294 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,480 Speaker 12: first certainly knew the Sheriff's Department was working for the 295 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,240 Speaker 12: pipeline company. One day, a guy showed up at the 296 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,280 Speaker 12: campsite with a rifle. He made threats, he assaulted a 297 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 12: water protector. All kinds of craziness was going on. A 298 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 12: few days later after that incident, I was in a 299 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,000 Speaker 12: kayak when the same individual came up in a fan 300 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 12: boat and made more threats. 301 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:01,920 Speaker 2: To talking people will get hurt bad. 302 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 8: Well, the book is I'm gonna get really hurt. 303 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:07,440 Speaker 2: I ll junkie video on people. 304 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:11,200 Speaker 7: So it seemed to be pretty well known that there 305 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 7: would be no repercussions for threatening or assaulting water protectors 306 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 7: or worse. 307 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 3: They knew, I mean they we would be out there, like, 308 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 3: you know, just you know, doing our thing, protesting, and 309 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 3: they would say you just wait, you just wait here. 310 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 4: In a few days, here, on this day, here, on 311 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:26,920 Speaker 4: this day, we're going to get you, you know. 312 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 3: And sure enough, as soon as that law passed, they 313 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 3: were out there passing out felonies. 314 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 7: The first felony arrests were only a few days after 315 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 7: the law went into effect. At that point, three water 316 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 7: protectors were in kayaks and they were pulled out of 317 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 7: the kayaks, handcuffed, dragged up into a pipeline easement and 318 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 7: then arrested under that new felony trespassing law. And that 319 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:53,359 Speaker 7: was the time period when the Department of Corrections was 320 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 7: contracting with Energy Transfer. And what you're about to hear 321 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:02,600 Speaker 7: is two Energy Transfer contractors directing the state employees who 322 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,560 Speaker 7: are also working for the pipeline company to arrest the 323 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:09,639 Speaker 7: water protectors in kayaks. They were also physically trying to 324 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 7: prevent me from filming. 325 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 13: I'm not. 326 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 7: I'm not touching you, Okay. 327 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 4: I am not. 328 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:25,400 Speaker 7: I am not on the right way. 329 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:26,200 Speaker 8: I would not do that. 330 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:30,399 Speaker 9: I promise you I will not go on the right 331 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:30,680 Speaker 9: of way. 332 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 4: I understand. 333 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:34,879 Speaker 8: I'm not going on the right I have not. 334 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:40,120 Speaker 1: The right way. 335 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:46,920 Speaker 3: Three. 336 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:52,760 Speaker 1: The three were the first to be arrested under Louisiana's 337 00:18:52,800 --> 00:18:56,880 Speaker 1: new critical infrastructure laws. Not long after that, the conflict 338 00:18:57,000 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: moved a few miles down the Bayou to another construction 339 00:19:00,119 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 1: site on private property in the swamp. This was the 340 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 1: land that Anne white Hat mentioned earlier where loy Le 341 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 1: v Water Protectors had written permission to be and the 342 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: pipeline company did not. In fact, the property owners had 343 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 1: asked Loi Levy to be there to help them because 344 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 1: they really didn't want this pipeline on their property. 345 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 7: Energy Transfer didn't have legal permission to work on that site. 346 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 7: And the thing that continually struck me is I was 347 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:29,000 Speaker 7: reporting from there, is that they knew they didn't have 348 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 7: permission to be there. They knew they didn't have permission 349 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:33,880 Speaker 7: to tear up those cypress trees, or dig a trench 350 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 7: or pull a pipeline through that property. 351 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:36,960 Speaker 5: It was clear they knew. 352 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:41,159 Speaker 7: They filed an eminent domain case, and the landowners, wanting 353 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:44,280 Speaker 7: to prevent the destruction of the land, had actually filed 354 00:19:44,320 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 7: for an injunction, a temporary restraining order to prevent the 355 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 7: pipeline company from working. A hearing for that injunction was 356 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 7: coming up in September. So there were many ways that 357 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 7: Energy Transfer knew that they shouldn't be working out there, 358 00:19:58,680 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 7: but yet they were still working. 359 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 3: It was not like a situation where we were consistently 360 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 3: breaking the law. We had not broken the law at 361 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 3: that property at all, because the owner had said, yes, 362 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 3: I don't want this pipeline the company my life, and can. 363 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:13,399 Speaker 4: You help me. 364 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 3: But the police, who were bought and paid for by 365 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 3: these oil companies and supported by these systems, arrested us. 366 00:20:21,080 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: Anyway, Here's how Schari described it at the time. This 367 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:30,400 Speaker 1: was just after several people, including Karen, had been arrested 368 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: on that property. 369 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,960 Speaker 14: Everybody shreve boiler here. I'm out here in a where 370 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 14: we have sus Teresa happening. It's on private land. The 371 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 14: ETP does not own that, they legally don't work on 372 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 14: and we are here with permission, and but the Saint 373 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:53,600 Speaker 14: Mary Saint Martin Parish police will not do anything. In fact, 374 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,480 Speaker 14: earlier today myself another person went to speak with them. 375 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 14: We were navigating roup A, three different spots, three different locations. 376 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 14: Finally talked to the two deputies and we gave them 377 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 14: all the paperwork, everything that we had to show that 378 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 14: ETP is not allowed to be here. By the time 379 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:11,920 Speaker 14: we got back, there was a situation where we had 380 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 14: four police boats go out in front of us, loaded 381 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 14: with Saint Martin Parish sheriffs. Why is Saint Martin Parish 382 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,959 Speaker 14: criminalizing peaceful water protectors when we are the ones who 383 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 14: are upholding the law and they are the ones who 384 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 14: port in the criminals. I don't know, man, it feels 385 00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:30,640 Speaker 14: like a mafia regime honestly buying multi billion dollar corporations. 386 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:33,760 Speaker 5: Something's wrong. There's no reason, And I tell you the truth. 387 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:35,960 Speaker 14: I'd try to be home right now with my kids, 388 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:38,880 Speaker 14: but I'm not because someone has to hold them accountable. 389 00:21:56,560 --> 00:22:01,920 Speaker 7: Yes, back up, he's not resisting. 390 00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:04,120 Speaker 8: He's not resisting, he's not resting. 391 00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:07,920 Speaker 2: You're off tresspassing if you don't want to go, But no, 392 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:08,359 Speaker 2: we're not. 393 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,280 Speaker 7: Dress fuck. 394 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:29,879 Speaker 4: Ah, dude, we need to. 395 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: Wow, Karen. This tape is really horrifying, and I know 396 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:53,240 Speaker 1: we're only hearing a tiny snippet of it. 397 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 7: Yeah, that that was just a brutal, brutal arrest. 398 00:22:57,600 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 11: It was. 399 00:22:57,960 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 7: It was horrible, hard to hear even to this day, 400 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:04,679 Speaker 7: hard to see, you know. And after the guys dragged 401 00:23:04,720 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 7: Shari away, there were others that were coming towards where 402 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:10,199 Speaker 7: I was standing and where other water protectors were standing. 403 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 7: So everyone started just running in the opposite direction, and 404 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 7: I ran with the water protectors to a boat that 405 00:23:16,800 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 7: was on the other side of the property. I was 406 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:20,959 Speaker 7: worried they were going to arrest me again because at 407 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,679 Speaker 7: that point I had already been arrested once, but mostly 408 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 7: I was focused on protecting my film, to be honest. 409 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,840 Speaker 7: I remember laying on the boat floor as we went 410 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 7: from the site through the Bayo because it was like 411 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 7: a fifteen to twenty minute boat ride back to the dock. 412 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:36,439 Speaker 7: I remember laying on the floor with another person who 413 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 7: also had some video from that day, kind of hiding 414 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 7: under there so that if we ran across pipeliners or 415 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 7: security slash police, whatever they were at the time, and 416 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 7: they saw the boat, they wouldn't see me or they 417 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:51,119 Speaker 7: wouldn't see my camera. 418 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: Chari Futlin did get arrested that day. 419 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:00,119 Speaker 3: I was arrested for the property that was on the 420 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 3: critical Infrastructure law and that I again had permission to 421 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 3: be on that property. And then when I did put 422 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:08,399 Speaker 3: me in jail, so I had two felony Each of 423 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 3: those felony arrests would have been five years hard labor 424 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:15,520 Speaker 3: in Louisiana, and I mean it and anything labor in Louisiana. 425 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 7: So I. 426 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:20,320 Speaker 1: SHUREI was worried that she would be facing the worst 427 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:22,720 Speaker 1: case scenario if she were convicted. 428 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 4: I was scared. I thought that there was a chance 429 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:29,240 Speaker 4: that I would be able to be with my kids, 430 00:24:29,320 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 4: and that so mom was the scariest thing in the 431 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:32,439 Speaker 4: world or to me anyway. 432 00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:37,520 Speaker 1: Being a reporter on the scene did not help Karen 433 00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:41,879 Speaker 1: from butting up against Louisiana's oil friendly cops or laws either. 434 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 7: I ended up being arrested twice, both times after the 435 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:49,480 Speaker 7: felony trespassing law went into effect. One time was on 436 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 7: the property where I had permission to be, and another 437 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,160 Speaker 7: time a few weeks later at a boat ramp where 438 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:57,639 Speaker 7: at the same time in white Hat was also arrested. 439 00:24:58,359 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 7: And we know with that second arrest, by that time, 440 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,480 Speaker 7: I knew the way from the boat ramp to the jail. 441 00:25:02,800 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 7: I'd been there before reporting on other arrests. But once 442 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 7: they got me into the vehicle, instead of going from 443 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:13,240 Speaker 7: point A to point B, the deputy took a really 444 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 7: long way around, circling around these again tiny little remote 445 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:18,080 Speaker 7: gravel roads. 446 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 5: Now in the middle of the sugar cane fields. 447 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,159 Speaker 7: You know, the sugar cane is way up at that 448 00:25:22,280 --> 00:25:24,879 Speaker 7: point in the year, so you know, no one can 449 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,439 Speaker 7: see even that a car is coming, much less what's happening. 450 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 5: It was horrifying because. 451 00:25:29,359 --> 00:25:32,200 Speaker 7: You know, you hear all kinds of stories about people 452 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:35,359 Speaker 7: disappearing in the sugar cane fields, and you know, Anne 453 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 7: went through the same thing, but worse. She described how 454 00:25:38,040 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 7: at one point, as she was being transported, you know, 455 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 7: in the same circular fashion. Another parish police vehicle pulled 456 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 7: up and they had her get out of the first 457 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,400 Speaker 7: car and get into the second car. Now, just think 458 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:54,719 Speaker 7: for a minute how horrifying that would have been for her. 459 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,600 Speaker 7: This is a brown woman in South Louisiana in the 460 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 7: middle of a sugar cane field during a battle that's 461 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:04,320 Speaker 7: as heated as this, and she's being told to get 462 00:26:04,359 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 7: out of the car like that by people that she 463 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:12,119 Speaker 7: knows are not actually working for the parish or protecting her, 464 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 7: but people who are working and looking out for the 465 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:15,159 Speaker 7: pipeline company. 466 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:18,560 Speaker 1: Lawyer Bill quickly says, these are the sorts of tactics 467 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:21,720 Speaker 1: that become common when the industry feels like the pushback 468 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:26,600 Speaker 1: against it is starting to work, and so. 469 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 15: When the end is coming and they're desperate, they're willing 470 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:33,520 Speaker 15: to use the law as a means of punishing people 471 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 15: for their protests, for their speech, for their activity that 472 00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 15: should be protected by the First Amendment. And they're desperate, 473 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 15: and they're billionaires. You have desperate billionaires. They're going to 474 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 15: do everything they can, and they don't worry about what 475 00:26:48,680 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 15: the law says, and they don't worry that maybe a 476 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:53,320 Speaker 15: year from now or two years from now, three years 477 00:26:53,320 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 15: from now, some judge is going to say, well, that 478 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:58,080 Speaker 15: was ridiculous and that was illegal what you did to 479 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:02,600 Speaker 15: these people. They're interested in now punishing people now, using 480 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:05,200 Speaker 15: law as a tool to punish people who have a 481 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 15: different opinion and different conduct about trying to save the 482 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 15: human race. 483 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:10,719 Speaker 13: Right right. 484 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:12,400 Speaker 5: And I think we saw that in Louisiana. 485 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 7: Remember how you know there was a court date in November, 486 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:18,080 Speaker 7: but they wanted folks out of the way so they 487 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 7: could get that work done by November. 488 00:27:20,119 --> 00:27:21,679 Speaker 5: Because once the work is done, you know, how are 489 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 5: you going to undo it? 490 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:27,520 Speaker 8: You know, that's absolutely right. Pam Aam could talk a 491 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:28,399 Speaker 8: little bit more about that. 492 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:32,359 Speaker 1: Pam is Pam Spee's staff attorney at the Center for 493 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: Constitutional Rights. She's worked on several cases in support of 494 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:41,120 Speaker 1: environmental protest, including various by U Bridge cases with Bill. 495 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:45,280 Speaker 16: So, I think what you're talking about, Karen, is their 496 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:50,639 Speaker 16: flagrant trespass on some really important property in the Chapalia 497 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:54,120 Speaker 16: Basin where the company just made a decision. 498 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:55,879 Speaker 8: We proved this a trial, they admitted it. 499 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:59,840 Speaker 16: They made a financial decision to ignore the law which 500 00:27:59,880 --> 00:28:04,359 Speaker 16: is already so favorable to the corporations. You know, oil companies. 501 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:08,679 Speaker 16: Oil pipeline companies have the power of eminent domain. They 502 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:11,119 Speaker 16: don't even have to work through the state, so that 503 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,320 Speaker 16: the laws are already really lax. 504 00:28:14,280 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 8: And supportive of these companies. 505 00:28:17,160 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 16: And this and by you, Bridge just decided we're not 506 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 16: even going to adhere to the limited restrictions we have. 507 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 16: We're just going to go out there start constructing, because 508 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 16: it's cheaper, ultimately to violate the laws that apply to 509 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 16: us than it is to adhere to. 510 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 8: Them and delay things. 511 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:34,879 Speaker 16: It was a race against time the ones that you're right, 512 00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:39,160 Speaker 16: once they got the pipeline built. Our only recourse if 513 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:42,160 Speaker 16: we had won a trial and prevented them from getting 514 00:28:42,200 --> 00:28:45,480 Speaker 16: the right of expropriation after the fact, would have. 515 00:28:45,520 --> 00:28:47,239 Speaker 8: Been well, now you have to go dig it up. 516 00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:51,240 Speaker 16: And no, almost no judge in Louisiana is going to 517 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:54,040 Speaker 16: order a pipeline company to do that. It is so 518 00:28:54,200 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 16: burdensome on protesters to be hauled into core and even 519 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 16: in these trivulous cases, and have to deal with those 520 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 16: for two three years until they finally peter out and. 521 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 8: Are dismissed, and then by then the damage is done. 522 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:11,680 Speaker 8: And these companies know. 523 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:15,920 Speaker 13: That, right, right, Yeah, I mean just waiting because they 524 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 13: have what four years from the time they arrest you 525 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 13: to go ahead and like put those charges through. Just 526 00:29:21,320 --> 00:29:24,440 Speaker 13: waiting and just wondering, you know, am I going to 527 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:28,280 Speaker 13: be in Louisiana jail doing hard labor for five years? 528 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:28,920 Speaker 4: You know? 529 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,200 Speaker 11: I was arrested as a reporter, so I wasn't even 530 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 11: you know, I had no attempt to get arrested. I 531 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 11: stayed where it was supposed to be, and they just 532 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:40,000 Speaker 11: basically didn't want me to document what they were doing. 533 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 1: Around the world, the fossil fuel industry invests a lot 534 00:29:44,240 --> 00:29:48,000 Speaker 1: of resources into building local support for its projects and 535 00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:53,600 Speaker 1: encouraging hostility against its opponents. Land defenders often face threats 536 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:57,040 Speaker 1: not only from law enforcement or corporate employees, but also 537 00:29:57,120 --> 00:30:01,360 Speaker 1: from community members. In South Louisiana, that's definitely the case. 538 00:30:02,040 --> 00:30:04,960 Speaker 1: The oil and gas industry has not only ingrained itself 539 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 1: in the local culture and pushed through new laws criminalizing protest, 540 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:15,040 Speaker 1: it also had local cops moonlighting as pipeline security. That's 541 00:30:15,200 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 1: a combination of factors that made for a really dangerous situation. 542 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 3: I had pulled into my driveway, a young woman came 543 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 3: running up to me. 544 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 4: Now there's a field at the end of. 545 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 3: Our road right there, and this young woman come up 546 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:33,040 Speaker 3: to me, and it was dark, and she said, I've 547 00:30:33,120 --> 00:30:34,560 Speaker 3: lost my baby, you know, can you help me. 548 00:30:34,600 --> 00:30:35,480 Speaker 4: Find I've lost my kid? 549 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,040 Speaker 3: And so I was like, yeah, you know, I just you. 550 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 4: Know, went to help. 551 00:30:39,160 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 3: I did not recognize this person, but I but she 552 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:45,160 Speaker 3: did have a very like South Louisiana accent. 553 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:47,480 Speaker 4: So I didn't have reason not to believe her. 554 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 3: I got a little bit maybe like maybe like a 555 00:30:50,160 --> 00:30:52,719 Speaker 3: couple hundred yards out into the field, and it's got 556 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:53,800 Speaker 3: the fat film because. 557 00:30:53,560 --> 00:30:55,240 Speaker 4: I kept asking our questions, is it a boy, is 558 00:30:55,240 --> 00:30:56,560 Speaker 4: it a girl? What am I looking for? Like, you know, 559 00:30:56,640 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 4: as a how old? 560 00:30:58,000 --> 00:30:58,120 Speaker 13: You know? 561 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:00,920 Speaker 4: Things like that, And all of a sudden I took 562 00:31:00,960 --> 00:31:02,320 Speaker 4: a step backwards because she was. 563 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:06,400 Speaker 3: Getting farther away, and almost disappeared when I felt two 564 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:10,200 Speaker 3: hands pushed me down from the from behind. And when 565 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:13,719 Speaker 3: they pushed me, they just started just hitting me. At 566 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 3: one point one of them was seeing me with a belt, 567 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 3: i know, and really just kicking my ass, honestly. And 568 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 3: then I you know that I had pulled myself a 569 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 3: little bit more back. 570 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:22,760 Speaker 4: Into the light. 571 00:31:22,840 --> 00:31:24,680 Speaker 3: You had a street right there, but I was out 572 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 3: of it at that point, so I knew if it 573 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 3: got back to the light, I'd be safer and maybe 574 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 3: at least someone in my area. 575 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:32,200 Speaker 5: I could see. 576 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:35,880 Speaker 3: It probably happened very quickly, but it felt long, if 577 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:38,320 Speaker 3: that makes sense. And yeah, by the time I made 578 00:31:38,320 --> 00:31:40,840 Speaker 3: it back to the light, they had disappeared. 579 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 4: Too, and I you know, didn't see them again. But 580 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:45,520 Speaker 4: you know, I had to get up myself up and 581 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 4: dust myself off. I also had children in that. 582 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:51,480 Speaker 3: House, you know, five of them, and I did not 583 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:53,240 Speaker 3: and want to scare them. 584 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:53,840 Speaker 13: I did. 585 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 3: I did not want what I did to try to 586 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 3: affect them or as little as possible, you know, so 587 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,160 Speaker 3: I kind of, yeah, you know, dusted myself off as 588 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:03,360 Speaker 3: best I could, and I walked in. 589 00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:05,200 Speaker 4: The house, was my head up, like nothing was wrong. 590 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:08,800 Speaker 3: And my little boy said, you know what I obviously 591 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:10,920 Speaker 3: had at the situation, and I was like, oh, I 592 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:11,720 Speaker 3: just fell down. 593 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:12,000 Speaker 4: You know. 594 00:32:12,440 --> 00:32:14,760 Speaker 3: I locked all my doors and I locked all my windows, 595 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 3: and after that, I got a camera for the around 596 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 3: the house, and I just ate it. 597 00:32:21,280 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 4: You know, we're in the middle of a big struggle. 598 00:32:25,800 --> 00:32:29,360 Speaker 1: In her congressional testimony, Anne white Hat also talked about 599 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 1: this violence against protesters, not just from police, but from 600 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:34,680 Speaker 1: some members of the public. 601 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:38,760 Speaker 2: Escalating violence has been used for centuries against people who 602 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:42,960 Speaker 2: challenge the concentration and misuse of power. This is nothing 603 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:45,600 Speaker 2: new to us, but what we experience needs to be 604 00:32:45,720 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 2: recognized by all as a coordinated assault on a movement. 605 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:53,040 Speaker 2: Indigenous people continued to be the first responders to the 606 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:56,720 Speaker 2: worsening effects of climate crisis. Our actions are part of 607 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 2: our commitment as caretakers at the places we live in. 608 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:01,600 Speaker 3: There was nothing I can do. I mean, the truth 609 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:03,280 Speaker 3: of the matter is these people are bigger than me 610 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 3: in every single way. But I wasn't gonna let them 611 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 3: intimidate me at that point. 612 00:33:08,200 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 13: I was not. 613 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 4: I just felt like if I. 614 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:14,480 Speaker 3: Buckled, if I stopped at that point, then anyone or 615 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:16,240 Speaker 3: a lot of people who are out there tried to. 616 00:33:16,280 --> 00:33:18,120 Speaker 4: Do the same thing, which is just say no. 617 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:20,880 Speaker 3: Would have to suffer the same thing because they would 618 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:21,480 Speaker 3: know or work. 619 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:22,880 Speaker 4: So I kept going. 620 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 3: And a few months later, I was sitting at a 621 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:29,080 Speaker 3: sonic and I was getting drinks from my babies, and 622 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:29,800 Speaker 3: I was getting ready to. 623 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:31,320 Speaker 4: Go home, and I was kind of excited because I 624 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:33,160 Speaker 4: was going to get spend the afterday. 625 00:33:33,160 --> 00:33:36,240 Speaker 3: Afternoon, and somebody camp behind me and grabbed me again. 626 00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:39,960 Speaker 4: Somebody grabbed me from behind. I feel if it wasn't 627 00:33:40,200 --> 00:33:43,200 Speaker 4: a knife that they had, then it was some kind 628 00:33:43,200 --> 00:33:45,600 Speaker 4: of metal objects. But I didn't know look and I 629 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:49,480 Speaker 4: was pretty terrified. So they told me that they were. 630 00:33:49,480 --> 00:33:52,000 Speaker 3: Going to kill everyone in my and not me. They 631 00:33:52,040 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 3: wouldn't kill me, They kill everyone in my family and 632 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:57,880 Speaker 3: everyone I loved. And then they named off a list 633 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:01,520 Speaker 3: of people that I very deeply care and that was 634 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:02,960 Speaker 3: the started Bork cames back. 635 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:06,440 Speaker 4: I couldn't do it. I got my kids out of there. 636 00:34:06,480 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 4: I hope we went somewhere else. 637 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 1: It was for those reasons that three of those arrested 638 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:16,440 Speaker 1: on felony charges and White Hat, Ramon Mahea and Karen Savage, 639 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:20,480 Speaker 1: along with a dozen other organizations and individuals, filed a 640 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:25,399 Speaker 1: lawsuit in twenty nineteen to challenge the constitutionality of that law. 641 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:30,080 Speaker 1: Pamspis and Bill quickly represented them. 642 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:36,400 Speaker 16: The lawsuit was challenging the twenty eighteen amendments in that 643 00:34:36,520 --> 00:34:40,280 Speaker 16: the Louisiana legislature past which added pipelines to the definition 644 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:43,759 Speaker 16: of critical infrastructure, and we brought this suit to. 645 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:46,360 Speaker 8: Challenge the constitutionality of. 646 00:34:46,400 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 16: The amendments and one of the problems with the way 647 00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:53,719 Speaker 16: these pipelines were added into the definition of critical infrastructure 648 00:34:53,800 --> 00:34:56,360 Speaker 16: is that Louisiana has well over one hundred and. 649 00:34:56,360 --> 00:34:59,400 Speaker 8: Twenty five thousand miles of pipelines. 650 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:02,239 Speaker 16: The law wasn't limited to oil and gas. It was 651 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:05,080 Speaker 16: any kind of pipeline, water, pipelines, right, So then you 652 00:35:05,160 --> 00:35:10,480 Speaker 16: add that and you just turned vast, vast swaths of 653 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:15,440 Speaker 16: territory and Louisiana into critical infrastructure. And it didn't specify 654 00:35:15,520 --> 00:35:19,440 Speaker 16: in any way areas around pipeline. So one problem right 655 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:22,839 Speaker 16: off the bat was that it was unconstitutionally big. 656 00:35:23,040 --> 00:35:24,880 Speaker 8: And then you add the First Amendment. 657 00:35:24,560 --> 00:35:28,359 Speaker 16: Concerns into it, and it becomes just very very clear 658 00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:31,080 Speaker 16: why this is such a problem. And then we were 659 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:34,600 Speaker 16: into discovery and we got to take depositions of some 660 00:35:34,719 --> 00:35:38,360 Speaker 16: of these deputies who were being employed by the pipeline 661 00:35:38,440 --> 00:35:43,200 Speaker 16: company who disagreed even among themselves how to figure out 662 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:46,239 Speaker 16: when and where this law applied. It's you know, it 663 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 16: just really showed what a huge mess these amendments created. Unfortunately, 664 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:54,880 Speaker 16: the judge ruled against us that he found that he 665 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:58,759 Speaker 16: didn't think that it violated the First Amendment, and so 666 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 16: we have filed emotion to reconsider, and we're waiting on 667 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:05,719 Speaker 16: that ruling, and we're hopeful, you know, if maybe. 668 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:07,240 Speaker 8: We can change this judge's behnd. 669 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:09,920 Speaker 16: It's not I think we feel we have a really 670 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:12,400 Speaker 16: strong case to make on appeal, but the case. 671 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:13,640 Speaker 8: Is still very much in play. 672 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:18,000 Speaker 1: From a national perspective, A win in Louisiana, which, like 673 00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:21,480 Speaker 1: we've heard, is a conservative friend of the fossil fuel industry, 674 00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:25,640 Speaker 1: would send a strong message to states considering such laws, 675 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:28,400 Speaker 1: could even push states that have already enacted them to 676 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:33,120 Speaker 1: reconsider while the constitutional case is in play. The state 677 00:36:33,200 --> 00:36:37,799 Speaker 1: has since dropped its charges against the protesters, and. 678 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:42,640 Speaker 3: None of those charges went through, not a single felony charge. 679 00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:44,440 Speaker 4: From that critical, critical infrastructure all went through. 680 00:36:44,560 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 3: And you think about the charges, You think about what 681 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:49,000 Speaker 3: it cost to put us in jail, Think about what 682 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:51,000 Speaker 3: it costs to do all that, to the state, to 683 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:57,200 Speaker 3: the city itself, mh, you know. And these officers they got, 684 00:36:57,280 --> 00:36:59,040 Speaker 3: they got a few more bucks for a while, but 685 00:36:59,840 --> 00:37:01,760 Speaker 3: I mean, was it work it They drink. 686 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:02,200 Speaker 7: That water too. 687 00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:07,440 Speaker 1: The state court also ruled that it was the pipeline 688 00:37:07,520 --> 00:37:11,279 Speaker 1: company that had been trespassing all along. This is what 689 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:14,879 Speaker 1: loy Levie had been arguing the whole time and why 690 00:37:14,920 --> 00:37:18,200 Speaker 1: the landowners had involved them in the first place. And 691 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:22,560 Speaker 1: yet the pipeline company face a very minor fine and 692 00:37:22,800 --> 00:37:27,120 Speaker 1: no jail time, Unlike the water protectors. The penalty for 693 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:31,520 Speaker 1: destroying private property for corporate gain a whopping four hundred 694 00:37:31,560 --> 00:37:34,600 Speaker 1: and fifty dollars fine, one hundred and fifty bucks for 695 00:37:34,719 --> 00:37:38,560 Speaker 1: each of the landowners who filed suit. Those landowners appealed, 696 00:37:38,719 --> 00:37:41,440 Speaker 1: and the higher court later uped the fine to ten 697 00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:47,120 Speaker 1: thousand dollars plus attorney's fees. For context. Energy Transfer has 698 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:50,320 Speaker 1: said the pipeline is capable of moving four hundred and 699 00:37:50,520 --> 00:37:55,360 Speaker 1: eighty thousand barrels of oil per day. At today's oil prices, 700 00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:58,759 Speaker 1: that's roughly forty three point two million dollars worth of 701 00:37:58,800 --> 00:38:02,840 Speaker 1: oil running through their life land every single day. Completed 702 00:38:02,880 --> 00:38:06,480 Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen, the Bayou Bridge Pipeline now transports oil 703 00:38:06,600 --> 00:38:09,880 Speaker 1: from the north to refineries in Saint James Parish and 704 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:13,680 Speaker 1: nearby export terminals. And yep, you guessed it. Those are 705 00:38:13,800 --> 00:38:18,480 Speaker 1: predominantly African American communities located in what's referred to as 706 00:38:18,640 --> 00:38:21,959 Speaker 1: Cancer Alley because the area is home to so many 707 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:28,040 Speaker 1: refineries and petrochemical plants. Even though the pipeline was eventually built, 708 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:30,719 Speaker 1: the way Shari looks at it, lois La Ville was 709 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:33,759 Speaker 1: still a success. For one thing. They were able to 710 00:38:33,880 --> 00:38:36,239 Speaker 1: buy some land that was the home base for the 711 00:38:36,320 --> 00:38:39,759 Speaker 1: pipeline resistance fight, and they turned that land into what 712 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:44,680 Speaker 1: they call a food forest with banana trees, turmeric, maringa, 713 00:38:44,920 --> 00:38:47,399 Speaker 1: and all sorts of plants and veggies that they give 714 00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:48,480 Speaker 1: out to the community. 715 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:54,320 Speaker 3: So, yeah, that pipeline went through, But I tell you what, 716 00:38:54,960 --> 00:38:57,680 Speaker 3: we fed a lot of people and we have that 717 00:38:57,920 --> 00:39:00,759 Speaker 3: property now that's now a buying food forest and we're 718 00:39:00,920 --> 00:39:04,160 Speaker 3: replanting after hurricanes come through, or were planting with food trees. 719 00:39:05,080 --> 00:39:09,239 Speaker 3: We had inspired many, many people to make change and 720 00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:12,520 Speaker 3: to know that they can stand up and even under 721 00:39:13,200 --> 00:39:17,600 Speaker 3: great oppression and under great pushback like that, that that 722 00:39:17,719 --> 00:39:18,120 Speaker 3: there is. 723 00:39:18,160 --> 00:39:19,040 Speaker 5: A reason to do that. 724 00:39:19,520 --> 00:39:24,360 Speaker 3: So I am I will never not count lolly Lope 725 00:39:24,760 --> 00:39:26,560 Speaker 3: as a win. And I will never say to those 726 00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:29,200 Speaker 3: people that intimidated us or had to make those logs 727 00:39:29,239 --> 00:39:31,600 Speaker 3: to try to take us or whatever, that they won, 728 00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:37,279 Speaker 3: because I don't know what winning is until it's over, 729 00:39:37,840 --> 00:39:38,719 Speaker 3: and it's. 730 00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:42,880 Speaker 4: Far from over, you know. You remember I talked about. 731 00:39:42,680 --> 00:39:45,160 Speaker 3: The Fixed the musical on the easement and how that 732 00:39:45,320 --> 00:39:48,120 Speaker 3: the oil workers had clapped. 733 00:39:48,160 --> 00:39:51,440 Speaker 1: And Casey missed that that's Crawfish, the musical, which you 734 00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:54,239 Speaker 1: heard some tape from earlier in this episode. 735 00:39:55,480 --> 00:40:03,400 Speaker 4: Sure, two years. 736 00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:05,200 Speaker 3: Later, after I got finished with this whole campaign and 737 00:40:05,239 --> 00:40:05,800 Speaker 3: I moved. 738 00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:08,320 Speaker 4: Out of there fromund safety, my children's safety, I was 739 00:40:08,360 --> 00:40:11,680 Speaker 4: reading an article. It was about this new solar company that. 740 00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:14,839 Speaker 3: Was coming in and in the article, the person had 741 00:40:15,080 --> 00:40:17,320 Speaker 3: said that they used to be an oil worker, that 742 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:20,280 Speaker 3: they had been at a protest and they had seen 743 00:40:20,640 --> 00:40:24,960 Speaker 3: our musical about Crawfish, and it had changed their perspective 744 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:28,080 Speaker 3: because they thought it was such a creative thing to do, 745 00:40:28,480 --> 00:40:31,960 Speaker 3: and they started a solar power company that was retraining 746 00:40:32,080 --> 00:40:35,280 Speaker 3: oil workers. I had no idea that that happened. 747 00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:37,200 Speaker 4: We did not plan for that to happen. 748 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:40,200 Speaker 3: But the truth of the matter is anytime you do 749 00:40:40,320 --> 00:40:43,480 Speaker 3: good things on this earth or for the sake of righteousness, period. 750 00:40:43,440 --> 00:40:45,920 Speaker 4: It is going to reverberate into the world. I think 751 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:46,880 Speaker 4: that it's up to each. 752 00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:49,680 Speaker 3: Generation to decide what it is that they will demand for. 753 00:40:49,760 --> 00:40:50,920 Speaker 4: The next generation. 754 00:40:51,480 --> 00:40:54,680 Speaker 3: And I think that we can demand more, and I 755 00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:58,080 Speaker 3: think that those children and grandchildren and grandchildren deserve more 756 00:40:59,160 --> 00:40:59,840 Speaker 3: I guess that's it. 757 00:41:00,680 --> 00:41:01,399 Speaker 13: Don't let. 758 00:41:03,800 --> 00:41:04,560 Speaker 4: Don't let them do it. 759 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:07,839 Speaker 3: We're stronger than we think, are powerful than. 760 00:41:07,840 --> 00:41:09,640 Speaker 4: We think, and if we weren't, then they went and 761 00:41:09,719 --> 00:41:11,640 Speaker 4: go after us like this. They have to use a 762 00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:12,640 Speaker 4: law to go after us. 763 00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:15,200 Speaker 3: They have to try to push us down, try to 764 00:41:15,239 --> 00:41:18,000 Speaker 3: scare us, try to do that because they know that 765 00:41:18,120 --> 00:41:22,400 Speaker 3: we are much more powerful than they are and together 766 00:41:22,520 --> 00:41:23,520 Speaker 3: we can make that change. 767 00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:25,960 Speaker 4: But thought Dane, we got to figureut to protect. 768 00:41:25,719 --> 00:41:26,279 Speaker 5: What we already have. 769 00:41:26,680 --> 00:41:28,120 Speaker 4: We have to do that and what we mean to 770 00:41:28,160 --> 00:41:29,799 Speaker 4: do it like right now, right now. 771 00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:36,320 Speaker 1: That's it for this time. Big thanks to Karen for 772 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:40,040 Speaker 1: bringing us this story. She'll be back on upcoming episodes 773 00:41:40,040 --> 00:41:43,080 Speaker 1: about what it looks like to see protests criminalized in 774 00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:45,759 Speaker 1: the US. We'll be leaving the country again and some 775 00:41:45,960 --> 00:41:48,839 Speaker 1: upcoming episodes, so make sure to come back for those. 776 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:52,960 Speaker 7: Drill does an original Critical Frequency production. This episode was 777 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:55,080 Speaker 7: written and reported by me Karen Savage. 778 00:41:55,560 --> 00:41:58,440 Speaker 1: Our senior editor for this season is Aline Brown. 779 00:41:58,920 --> 00:42:02,160 Speaker 7: This episode was also dited by Sarah Ventry. Our senior 780 00:42:02,239 --> 00:42:05,719 Speaker 7: producer is Martin Saltz Ostwick, who also does our sound 781 00:42:05,760 --> 00:42:08,200 Speaker 7: design and compose most of the music in this episode. 782 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:11,080 Speaker 1: Mixing and mastering by Peter Duff, who. 783 00:42:11,000 --> 00:42:13,120 Speaker 7: Also composed some of the music in this episode. 784 00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:16,480 Speaker 12: A theme song is bet in the Hand by four known. 785 00:42:16,640 --> 00:42:20,680 Speaker 1: Fact checking by Rudan Jan. Our outwork is by Matt Fleming. 786 00:42:21,239 --> 00:42:24,279 Speaker 7: Our first Amendment attorney is James Wheedton. This show was 787 00:42:24,320 --> 00:42:27,480 Speaker 7: created by Amy Westerbilt, who also co hosted this episode. 788 00:42:28,000 --> 00:42:30,560 Speaker 7: You can find related videos, photos, and print stories for 789 00:42:30,640 --> 00:42:33,040 Speaker 7: this series, along with all the documentation that we have 790 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:35,600 Speaker 7: to go along with the series, at drill dot Media. 791 00:42:36,040 --> 00:42:38,160 Speaker 7: You can also sign up there for our weekly newsletter 792 00:42:38,360 --> 00:42:40,400 Speaker 7: we round up the top five stories on climate you 793 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:41,480 Speaker 7: should be reading each week. 794 00:42:41,960 --> 00:42:44,360 Speaker 1: It's never more than ten minutes to read, and people 795 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:46,360 Speaker 1: tell us it makes them feel like they're staying up 796 00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:49,120 Speaker 1: to date on climate without getting overwhelmed. 797 00:42:49,760 --> 00:42:52,080 Speaker 7: You can also find us on Twitter at we are Drilled. 798 00:42:52,520 --> 00:42:54,960 Speaker 1: If you'd like to support the podcast, leave us a 799 00:42:55,080 --> 00:42:58,160 Speaker 1: rating or a review. It's a huge help in finding 800 00:42:58,280 --> 00:42:59,040 Speaker 1: new listeners. 801 00:42:59,320 --> 00:43:02,080 Speaker 7: You can also ort us financially by becoming a subscriber 802 00:43:02,200 --> 00:43:05,280 Speaker 7: either to the newsletter or the podcast on apples, Spotify, 803 00:43:05,480 --> 00:43:09,239 Speaker 7: or Patrion. Paid subscribers get access to add free episodes, 804 00:43:09,400 --> 00:43:13,080 Speaker 7: early release episodes, and bonus content, Thanks for listening, and 805 00:43:13,160 --> 00:43:14,120 Speaker 7: we'll see you next time. 806 00:43:30,680 --> 00:43:33,600 Speaker 1: This time of year, everyone talks about going dry, but 807 00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:37,000 Speaker 1: at Athletic Brewing Company, we're skipping that because we prefer 808 00:43:37,160 --> 00:43:40,719 Speaker 1: going athletic, which isn't dry at all. From crisp goldens 809 00:43:40,760 --> 00:43:44,160 Speaker 1: to hoppy IPAs and limited releases in between, you'll find 810 00:43:44,239 --> 00:43:47,279 Speaker 1: something that fits your style. Every single non alcoholic brew 811 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:50,399 Speaker 1: is packed with flavor and the same craft experience you love. 812 00:43:50,640 --> 00:43:52,960 Speaker 1: So yeah, you could call it dry, but there's really 813 00:43:53,080 --> 00:43:54,080 Speaker 1: nothing dry about it. 814 00:43:54,320 --> 00:43:57,399 Speaker 5: Find your new favorite near beer at Athleticbrewing dot com. 815 00:43:57,800 --> 00:44:00,360 Speaker 1: Athletic Brewing Company Fit for All Time IMS