Civil Disobedience in Iowa Against Dakota Access Pipeline

from KCCI

Protesters rallied in Boone County near the Farm Progress Show against the Bakken pipeline Wednesday (8/31).

KCCI’s Mark Tauscheck reported the first arrest happened about 2:48 p.m. About 20 protesters were arrested on a trespassing charge and taken to the Boone County Jail.

About 80 protesters met Wednesday morning to learn the techniques of peaceful civil disobedience. In the afternoon, they marched to a construction site.

Organizers said the point of their demonstration is to draw attention to the pipeline issues even as construction on the pipeline is already underway. At least 36 of the protesters said Wednesday morning that they would be willing to get arrested if needed during the protest.

The protesters formed a line across the road into one of the construction sites. Boone County sheriff, deputies, and state troopers are at the scene.

PREPARING FOR PROTEST:

A federal judge has refused to issue a restraining order against Iowa protesters planning to risk arrest to stand against a Texas company building an oil pipeline across the land of unwilling farmers.

Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger says in an order issued Tuesday that Texas-based pipeline company Dakota Access hasn’t proven there’s an immediate risk of injury or damage by protesters exercising their First Amendment rights.

She set a hearing for Friday to consider the issue further.

Ed Fallon, state director of Bold Iowa, a group opposing the Dakota Access pipeline for environmental and property rights reasons, says up to 100 protesters plan peaceful civil disobedience Wednesday at a pipeline construction site in central Iowa.

Dakota Access on Monday sought an immediate restraining order to keep protesters 25 feet away.

Check out these related Newswire posts: