The Nation: Arrest of Journalists & Filmmakers Covering the Dakota Pipeline, a Threat to Democracy

[G_j]

https://www.thenation.com/article/the-arrest-of-journalists-and-filmmakers-covering-the-dakota-pipeline-is-a-threat-to-democracy-and-the-planet/

The Arrest of Journalists and Filmmakers Covering the Dakota Pipeline Is a Threat to Democracy—and the Planet

Deia Schlosberg, Amy Goodman, and Shailene Woodley are among those who have been arrested while covering demonstrations against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

By Josh FoxTwitter

On October 11, Deia Schlosberg, the producer of my new film, How to Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change, was arrested in Walhalla, North Dakota, while reporting on a climate-change protest. She was held for 48 hours before being allowed to speak to a lawyer. The authorities confiscated her footage. She is now charged with three counts of felony conspiracy and faces a possible sentence of up to 45 years.

The First Amendment and the Constitution are at stake in this case. If we lose it, we lose America too.

Deia isn’t alone. The arrest of journalists, filmmakers, and others witnessing and reporting on citizen protests against fossil-fuel infrastructure amid climate change is part of a worrisome and growing pattern. Last month in North Dakota, a warrant was issued to arrest Amy Goodman, award-winning host of Democracy Now!, after she covered Native American–led protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Her footage of security guards attacking peaceful protesters with bloody-snouted dogs was viewed over 14 million times. She elected to go back to North Dakota this week to face the charges. Actor Shailene Woodley was arrested and jailed this week while leaving a protest at a construction site for the Dakota Access Pipeline. She was singled out, the police told her, because she was well-known and had 40,000 people watching live on her Facebook page. Other filmmakers shooting protest actions along the pipeline have also been arrested.

All this should send chills down the spine of every documentary filmmaker and journalist.

..more..

[bmstee01]

1. I'm usually not so sensitive

But I am really disgusted by everything I read about this pipeline. We need to support our candidates, but also hold them accountable to work this out.

[Cerridwen]

2. I think The Nation forgot some context.

Last edited Mon Oct 17, 2016, 03:29 PM - Edit history (1)

Press Briefing: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/10/12/press-briefing-press-secretary-josh-earnest-10122016

Q Josh, on Tuesday, climate activists broke through fences and cut locks and chains simultaneously in the states -- several states, and turned some major pipelines off. What concerns did this raise at the White House about security of U.S. pipelines? And what steps are being taken, if any, to improve that?

MR. EARNEST: Jeff, I only recently became aware of these reports. I can tell you that both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation are investigating these reports and trying to get to the bottom of what exactly happened and what potential steps could be taken to ensure the safety and security of our energy infrastructure.

<snip referring reporter to dhs and dot in order to keep clip to 4 paragraphs>

Q And I understand if you haven’t seen much more of the reports. But doesn't it sort of raise the possibility that this could have been a lot worse had it been people with perhaps more nefarious intent?

MR. EARNEST: Well, I guess I’d refer to the experts at DHS who could give you a better security assessment about what sort of damage could have been caused by the reported breaches. But when it comes to the security of our infrastructure, particularly our energy infrastructure, that's something that the United States and this administration takes quite seriously.

The Nation

Deia’s brave reporting on oil contamination in the Amazon and on fracking and tar sands falls in that category. But how she and others reporting on these issues have been treated by the media and law enforcement shows that the oil-and-gas industry is contaminating them, too. Our government has also been fracked, and is serving fossil-fuel interests. Asked about the pipeline protests this week, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest sounded an ominous warning: “I can tell you that both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation are investigating these reports and trying to get to the bottom of what exactly happened and what potential steps could be taken to ensure the safety and security of our energy infrastructure.”

I believe the context was national security in spite of the fact The Nation appears to make it about jailing journalists and film-makers.

I prefer to win my battles honestly. I appreciate it when my allies do the same. I am of the opinion the writer for The Nation failed in that respect.

Now, in response to arresting journalists and film-makers, it appears they were arrested by leos with the Morton County Sheriff's Department; based on caption of Shailene Woodley's mugshot.

What exactly, should the evil federal government do to rein in state, county, and local leos who ignore the law or make up their own on the fly? Take over the state government? Take over just the department making up the law to fit their agenda? Send in the Marines? Before answering, what should shrub have been allowed to do to those states' departments who didn't follow his agenda?

I predict it will be handled in the courts and there might even be a settlement from the Morton County Sheriff's Department; depending on the quality of the journalists' lawyer. (Bolding added 10/17/2016 with below edit)


Edited 10/17/2016 12:30ish Pacific Time


DU Link: BREAKING: North Dakota judge REJECTS "riot" charges against Democracy Now! reporter Amy Goodman

DemocracyNow Facebook link from above DU link: https://www.facebook.com/democracynow/videos/vb.17414523278/10154580691423279/

Now let's see if they can get a settlement from the county agency.

[G_j]

3. So..

besides supporting corporations over people, you also support arresting journalists and film makers.. got it..

[Cerridwen]

4. Oh, obviously. It's all over my posting history.

Oh, obviously. It's all over my posting history. Go check it out. You should be able to find nones of posts supporting corporations and siding with arrests of journalists. Just nones and nones of them. /sarcasm (note to any jury called because I just "confessed" to being a corporatist anti-free-press poster; it's called dry and sarcastic and means the opposite of what was written as evidenced by the "nones and nones" comment.)

Or, it could be as I posted: "I prefer to win my battles honestly. I appreciate it when my allies do the same. I am of the opinion the writer for The Nation failed in that respect."

You see, I've worked in politics and I know how easy it is for your adversaries to make up shit about you. I know how easy it is for them to take words out of context and twist them into something else. I know how they create guilt by association. I know how easy it is for them to smear you with words of your allies taken out of context.

I know from personal experience and from what I've helped friends fight, as well as a few decades of watching the press tear down Democrats and activists. I prefer not becoming that which I fight. I also prefer to not have to back-pedal if an ally comes up short. So, I watch what my allies say.

eta: updated and completed thought

[G_j]

5. OK

What is the "honest" way to win this battle?
The powers that be consider this a done deal.
The activists have been pursuing all the legal channels open to them in the courts.

[Cerridwen]

6. Give me some time to put it together. This part sends me into rant mode.

Give me some time to put it together. This part sends me into rant mode.

I prefer some of my rants have substance; this would be one such. I'm replying so you know I saw your question and I am preparing to respond to it.

[G_j]

7. Thank you

This battle is already being fought (nonviolently) on all fronts.

[Mc Mike]

8. Oil nazis vs the rest of America.

[lonestarnot]

9. Oilers. Greasiest slime known to mankind.