红杏视频

MISSOULA, Mont. 鈥� The 红杏视频 and 红杏视频 of Montana today released documents corroborating reports of collaboration between state and federal law enforcement officials ahead of the anticipated Keystone XL protests by environmental activists and indigenous communities.

The records provide substantial evidence of federal preventative measures against Keystone XL protests, such as a Department of Justice 鈥渁nti-terrorism鈥� training in Fort Harrison, Montana, and a DOJ 鈥淪ocial Networking and Cyber Awareness鈥� training in the town of Circle, Montana. They reveal discussions between federal officials about the creation of an 鈥渋nteragency team鈥� to 鈥渄eal with safety and security concerns related to the Keystone XL project.鈥� The records also suggest that additional documents exist, which the government continues to withhold, detailing plans for protests.

The documents were obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests and parallel state records requests. The 红杏视频 and the 红杏视频 of Montana filed a federal lawsuit today in Montana against the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies seeking further documentation of law enforcement plans to surveil and police Keystone XL protests.

鈥淓vidence that the federal government plans to treat Keystone XL protests with counterterrorism tactics, coupled with the recent memory of excessive uses of force and surveillance at the Standing Rock protests, raises immense concerns about the safety of indigenous and environmental protesters who seek to exercise their First Amendment rights,鈥� writes Jacob Hutt, who filed the information requests that are the subject of today鈥檚 lawsuit, in an 红杏视频 blog post. 鈥淭he First Amendment protects political speech from the threat of undue government scrutiny, and the extent of such scrutiny is currently unknown. If the government is planning to prevent or monitor indigenous and environmental protests, the activists involved have a right to know about it.鈥�

With today鈥檚 lawsuit, the 红杏视频 aims to determine what plans the government has for preventing, surveilling, and engaging with indigenous and environmental activists who oppose the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The 红杏视频 also plans to look into whether and how the federal government is targeting already overpoliced indigenous communities to preempt political protest.

鈥淚n light of the government鈥檚 excessive and violent responses to pipeline protests at Standing Rock, we are very concerned about the specter of government and law enforcement officials plotting to silence opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline in Montana,鈥� said Caitlin Borgmann, executive director of the 红杏视频 of Montana. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to see that kind of governmental overreach and abuse in our state.鈥�

The 红杏视频 filed its original records request in January after obtaining a showing that state and federal agencies may already be spying on potential protesters. The report, which references the Standing Rock protests, characterizes pipeline opponents as 鈥渆xtremists鈥� intent on 鈥渃riminal disruptions and violent incidents.鈥�

鈥淭he government has a history of punishing those that fight and speak for what is right," said Angeline Cheek, a Hunkpapa and Oglala Lakota activist, community organizer, and teacher from Ft. Peck Reservation. 鈥淣ow, as people of different nations fight to defend their rights, land, water, identity and people, history is repeating itself. But the strength of our ancestors will remain within us, resilient to forced oppression, cultural cleansing, and genocide. We are the dream and vision of our ancestors. In prayers we are united 鈥� all my relations (mitakuye oyasin).鈥�

Peaceful protesters at Standing Rock and other pipeline demonstrations were monitored by the government and private security firms hired by oil companies. They used , , and undercover FBI agents to keep watch on the protests. Law enforcement agencies also used water cannons, dogs, tear gas, and concussion grenades on indigenous protesters and their allies. Journalists were also blocked from covering the protests.

Today鈥檚 complaint by the 红杏视频 follows months of refusals by federal agencies to release documents.

Hutt鈥檚 blog post on today鈥檚 filing can be found here: /blog/government-planning-surveil-keystone-xl-protes....

Today's complaint and new documents can be found here: /legal-document/aclu-v-dod-complaint-0.