On June 5-8, thousands of people gathered in Northern Minnesota to stand against the Line 3 tar sands pipeline, in a coordinated effort known as the Treaty People Gathering.
The Line 3 pipeline snakes through Minnesota, threatening Midwestern waterways, violating Native Treaties, and threatening the global climate. Numerous groups, including the Sierra Club, are calling on President Biden to stop this toxic fossil fuel project, and last week’s Treaty People Gathering brought together water protectors and activists to take direct action to stop Line 3. The event was organized to stand against the ongoing construction of the Enbridge Line 3 replacement project, which would transport nearly 800,000 barrels of Canadian oil across northern Minnesota every day. If completed, the $9.3 billion pipeline would be the most expensive and largest tar sands pipeline in the world (nativenewsonline.net).
Recently, over 200 water protecters were arrested after shutting down Line 3 construction at the Two Inlets pump station for 29+ hours. On-site police are continuing to wear riot gear and arrest protesters. On June 8th, police also deployed a Long Range Acoustic Device, which can cause severe hearing damage. However, water protectors continued to hold the front and fight against Enbridge.
The construction and completion of the Line 3 “replacement” pipeline violates the Anishinaabe peoples’ rights to watch over their lands, which was granted to them by a federal territory treaty. Line 3 must be shut down.
To support water protectors and stand up against Enbridge, you can write a letter to tell President Joe Biden directly to #StopLine3 and to take action on tar sands pipelines in WIsconsin, you can sign a petition to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers to #ShutDownLine5.
Additionally, if willing and able, you can make a donation to those on the frontlines through Treaty People Gathering.
The Treaty People Gathering unified resistance among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to #StopLine3 on the frontlines at the beginning of June. Protesters on the frontlines will continue the fight for treaty rights and water protection.
Written by Alex Garner and Jenni Herrick, Sierra Club and 350 Madison Tar Sands Team members.