A group calling itself Line 3 Resistance Project is holding training sessions for those interested in learning the basics about direct action and to teach people their rights during a protest.
As an email describes it: “Get the skills to halt the pipeline through a series of direct action trainings designed for everyone from beginners to experienced activists. … To register and learn more about upcoming training’s visit us at stopline3trainings.com.”
Once again, quick background: Enbridge is a Canadian oil transportation company. Enbridge Line 3 runs through northern Minnesota and is old and failing. Enbridge wants to abandon it in the ground and build a new and larger Line 3 along a new 337-mile route, crossing the Mississippi headwaters and near wild rice lakes and rivers. It has drawn strong opposition from indigenous and environmental groups. It also has drawn comparisons to the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Here are the upcoming trainings:
Know Your Rights and Security Culture
Know your rights when talking to police and get informed about how to stay safe and secure when planning direct actions.
Saturday, April 7,1 -4 p.m.
Redeemer Lutheran Church
1800 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Sunday, April 8, 1-4 pm.
One Roof Housing Collective
12 E 4th St, Duluth, MN 55805
Direct Action 101
New to direct action or just want to refresh your skills? Get the basic skills to assert our power and defend our communities.
Saturday, April 21, 1 – 5 p.m.
Redeemer Lutheran Church
1800 Glenwood Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405
Sunday, April 22, 1 – 5 p.m.
Northern MN near pipeline route (exact location TBD)
Saturday, May 26, 1 – 5 p.m.
Walker Church
3104 16th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Register for training’s and learn more about the Line 3 Resistance Project at https://stopline3trainings.com
Questions? Contact: stopline3trainings@gmail.com
The “About” page describes the group as follows:
We are a mycelial network, based in Minneapolis, of folks coming together to coordinate trainings and workshops that aid the resistance to the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline project. We come from a framework of direct and collective action, and strive to dissolve all structures of oppression. Our goal is to coordinate trainers, provide spaces, and arrange the logistical support for skill-building towards these ends. It is our hope that these trainings will help to equip people to resist Line 3, to take care of themselves and their communities, and to form a broad resistance to the deadly industry of fossil fuel extraction.
The stakes are being raised at the state legislature as an industry-backed bill is trying to create something called “vicarious liability.” It would allow Enbridge to sue not only individuals responsible for damages during a trespass protest, but it would allow Enbridge to sue any organizations that aided the protestors. (See earlier blog: .)
In the event the legislature passes the bill and Dayton doesn’t veto it. Let’s connect the dots. If people in these trainings do direct action, trespasses on Enbridge property, and there is some kind of property damage, the bill would allow Enbridge to sue Walker Church and Redeemer Lutheran Church for hosting the training. (Presumably, Enbridge could sue this blog for promoting the training.)
That’s not in force now, as the bill hasn’t passed yet. But that is the looming threat.
Pow Wow Over the Pipeline
In other news, the Red Lake Nation is hosting Pow Wow Over the Pipeline, Saturday, April 14, in Leonard, MN. Here is the Facebook Page. There will be Grand Entry at 1 and 7 p.m. The event is open to the public.
This one-day Pow Wow will celebrate recent decisions by Red Lake to demand that Enbridge remove crude oil pipelines running through its sovereign lands. It turns out for decades, several Enbridge crude oil pipelines have trespassed on a portion of Red Lake lands in Leonard. It resulted from confusing land titles. The federal government knew about the problem for years but never took action to correct it. (See our earlier blog: .)
This means that Red Lake members and other Pow Wow participants would not appear to be trespassing on the pipeline, because Red Lake owns the land.
This is one of a number of events that will be happening in the coming months as Enbridge Line 3 nears a final vote. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission will vote sometime between late May to early June.
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