The major pipelines studied in the report disproportionately impact historically disenfranchised communities who, in turn find themselves potentially targeted by the protest criminalization measures, often framed as efforts to protect “critical infrastructure,” the report details.
“Under the premise of protecting infrastructure projects,” the Institute wrote, “these laws mandate harsh charges and penalties for exercising constitutional rights to freely assemble and to protest.”
Marathon Petroleum, one of three large fossil fuel companies the report names as driving state-level efforts to criminalize pipeline protests, is also facing new allegations of electoral wrong-doing in the form of a Federal Election Commission complaint alleging that the company made over $1 million in contributions to Republican super PACs that are barred by rules preventing federal contractors from providing that sort of funding."
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“Micheal Hennigan and the oil corporations lobbying for these bills
are obviously trying to criminalize dissent, not protect public health,”
said Jesse Coleman, a senior researcher with Documented, a watchdog
group. “Look at what has actually caused pipeline explosions, leaks, and
other problems — it's not the oil industry critics.”
“These projects are dangerous by design,” Coleman added, “and trying
to shift the focus to boogeymen protesters is a cheap trick to
avoid scrutiny.”
Go to original DeSmog article by Sharon Kelly
also
Meet the Money Behind The Climate Denial Movement (excerpt): Smithsonian Mag
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