FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 21, 2016
Contact:
Ed Fallon, Bold Iowa, 515-238-6404, ed@boldiowa.org
Adam Mason, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, 515-314-2655, adam@iowacci.org
Jane Kleeb, Bold Alliance, 402-705-3622, jane@boldalliance.org
Dakota Access Withdraws Federal Lawsuit That Sought Restraining Order Against Bold Iowa, Iowa CCI to Silence Peaceful Nonviolent Actions to Stop Pipeline Construction
“Midwest Mobilization” event Thursday at Boone County Fairgrounds is next in series of direct actions by 2,400+ signers of Bakken Pledge of Resistance
Des Moines — Dakota Access, LLC on Wednesday completely withdrew its federal lawsuit against Bold Iowa, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, and Bold director Ed Fallon and Iowa CCI policy director Adam Mason, wherein the company had sought a preliminary injunction and a restraining order aimed at silencing our ongoing peaceful, nonviolent direct actions to stop construction of this pipeline that threatens land, water and climate.
“This validates our belief all along that this was a frivolous lawsuit designed to silence our voices against the Dakota Access pipeline,” said Bold Iowa director Ed Fallon. “But we have refused to remain silent, and all our actions have been and will continue to be peaceful and nonviolent expressions of our First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. We continue to urge Pres. Obama to halt construction on Dakota Access in Iowa and along the entire pipeline route.”
“This dismissal is one more small victory in our fight to stop Dakota Access and the pipeline,” said Cherie Mortice, Iowa CCI board president. “We’ll continue to use all of the means at our disposal; building a bigger base and moving them to peaceful non-violent action until President Obama steps in and shuts this pipeline down.”
“Today’s dismissal is one more small victory in our fight to stop Dakota Access and the Bakken Pipeline, said Cherie Mortice, Iowa CCI board president. “We’ll continue to use all of the means at our disposal; building a bigger base and moving them to peaceful non-violent action until President Obama steps in and shuts this pipeline down.”
“When citizens are attacked by Big Oil for standing up for their property rights and free speech, we win,” said Bold Alliance president Jane Kleeb.
Iowa CCI and Bold Iowa’s next direct action is today’s “Midwest Mobilization,” which will take place from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Boone County Fairgrounds. The event will include a nonviolence training, a simultaneous Just Transition teach-in, a session featuring landowners’ perspectives on the pipeline, and cap off with a nonviolent direct action to stop construction of the Dakota Access pipeline.
- WHAT: Midwest Mobilization to Stop Dakota Access
- WHO: Bold Iowa, Iowa CCI, 100 Grannies for a Livable Future and signers of the Bakken Pledge of Resistance
- WHERE: Boone County Fairgrounds, 1601 Industrial Park Rd., Boone, IA 50036 (map)
- WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 22, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Bold Iowa and Iowa CCI are co-organizers of the “Bakken Pipeline Pledge of Resistance,” which has now been signed by 2,400 citizens, including over 550 who have pledged to risk arrest in acts of peaceful nonviolent civil disobedience to stop construction on the pipeline.
To date, nearly 100 citizens have been arrested in Iowa in acts of nonviolent civil disobedience to stop construction on the Dakota Access pipeline.
(View the Bakken Pipeline Pledge of Resistance: http://bit.ly/bakkenpledge)
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