Report from the Line 3 Protests, Northern Minnesota

UMRR Board member Kay Slama (LWV Willmar, MN) attended the Line 3 Treaty People Gathering at the headwaters of the Mississippi in northern MN June 5-8 and Zoomed into our Board meeting from there.  Today, on Wed June 9, she says:  The weather was extremely hot, but most participants appeared to be in their 20’s and 30’s and dealing well with the heat.  Sunday was an inspiration and training day at a White Earth Reservation site.  On Monday, participants split into their various action groups and headed out to their action sites.  Unfortunately, some national celebrities like Jane Fonda got much of the coverage, rather than the indigenous people leading the protest.   ​So many people were arrested that I found 21 listed at our Kandiyohi County jail 2 hours south, and I will probably be involved in trying to return them to their cars up north.  

The protests are continuing today, and will go on.   We will follow this the UMRR Blog as we move forward.  Line 3 protestors are turning up the heat as they work to stop Line 3.  More than 600 people have now been arrested, including Indigenous leader Winona La Duke.  Early in the protests, things took an ugly turn when a US Customs and Border Patrol helicopter sprayed protestors with dust and debris.   

Minnesota is in the midst of a drought and construction of the pipeline requires dewatering and other water appropriations.  Some of the DNR's appropriation permits have been temporarily suspended due to the drought, holding up construction to some extent.  The stakes are high and the protesters are determined.