Journalist Amy Goodman Wanted in North Dakota for Covering #NoDAPL Demonstrations
Morton County, North Dakota – An arrest warrant has been issued today, September 10, for Amy Goodman, an internationally renowned journalist who is the face of the popular online news outlet Democracy Now!
The warrant was discovered by attorneys who were inquiring as to the status of Cody Hall. Hall was arrested sometime yesterday afternoon while driving a vehicle on a road in the area of the water protection encampments resisting Dakota Access Pipeline construction. Cody Hall is the media spokesperson for Red Warrior Camp, one of the camps in the overflow area across the Missouri river from the Sacred Stone Camp. Hall’s arrest and the warrant for Goodman’s arrest would seem to signify local and state law enforcement following through on their threats to target and arrest those who they perceive to be leaders or organizers of the ongoing direct actions which have repeatedly halted the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
National Lawyers Guild legal observers who have been present observing recent events in the Standing Rock area, issued the following statement:
September 10, 2016
After Amy Goodman, anchor and reporter for Democracy Now!, reported from the sacred site of the Standing Rock Sioux where Dakota Access pipeline “security forces” were caught on camera unleashing canines and mace against water protectors, including a pregnant woman and children, the State of North Dakota issued a warrant and a criminal complaint against her for criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor, carrying a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine or both.
Mariel Nanasi, part of the legal team representing people at the encampment, stated “The State of North Dakota has begun to issue warrants and complaints against persons exercising their first and fourth amendment rights. Amy Goodman is being charged with criminal trespass because she was reporting and filming the destruction by the Dakota Access pipeline of the Sioux’s sacred sites and people’s response. When the security forces unleashed dogs and mace on unarmed civilians the DN! report went viral and was viewed by more than 4 million people all over the world. The State of North Dakota continues to escalate their harassment of people, including reporters, and to intimidate them from participating in peaceful protest and the defense of their land and water.”
PDF of the arrest warrant paperwork for Charles Cody Hall and Amy Goodman:
goodmanhallndchargesGeneral says North Dakota National Guard working with law enforcement to identify "agitators" at #NoDAPL protests. pic.twitter.com/fUwFrB39QX
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 10, 2016
If you have more information about the Dakota Access Pipeline or similar projects, please contact [email protected].
For a recap from the month of August’s action, see below.
- After covering the camp in the spring of 2016, Unicorn Riot returned to Standing Rock Reservation on Wednesday, August 10th, when Standing Rock tribal members and allies blocked the entrance to the Dakota Access Pipeline construction site.
- On Thursday, August 11th, a dozen or so people were arrested blocking the construction site entrances.
- Day 3, Friday, the fight to protect land & water intensified around the construction sites of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
- On the 4th day, the pipeline resistance encampment swelled and prepared for more action.
- Monday, August 15th, land defenders stormed the construction site halting construction, and the next day construction was halted as well.
- August 17th saw State Police begin checkpoints, roadblocks, and psyops as protesters united to defend water.
- August 24th, camps prepared as Federal injunction hearing looms.
- Camps Organize to Stay as Injunction Postponed.
- On August 31st, Non-Violent Direct Action Stopped DAPL Construction for Over 6 Hours.
September 2016
- Indigenous Water Protectors Swarm Dakota Access Pipeline Site, Stop Work
- Ongoing #NoDAPL Water Protection Actions – Interview With Uŋpa Nuŋpa
For our coverage earlier this spring of the Sacred Stone Camp, see May 27th report, “Dakota Access Pipeline Blockade Enters 2nd Month“; May 5th, “Sacred Stone Camp Resists Dakota Access Pipeline“; April 3rd, “Tribal Citizens Build Camp in Path of Oil Pipeline“; March 29th, “Tribal Citizens Prepare to Blockade Bakken Oil Pipeline“.
[Cover art is based on Wikimedia Commons asset]
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