Stop the Line 3 Pipeline and Protect Human Rights!
“Any pipeline going through indigenous lands is abhorrent. Not only did we take indigenous peoples’ lands in the beginning of this country, but now we use it for our own purposes and the purposes of CANADIAN corporations.“–Richard Avvenire, one of 68 protestors arrested for speaking out against Line 3.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2021
For more information contact:
Dustin Young, Campaign Manager, Hoffman for Governor/Warburton for Lieutentant Governor at (215)866-7343 or dgyoung2222@gmail.com
Madelyn Hoffman at (973)876-1023 or hoffmanforgovernor2021@gmail.com
We condemn the state of Minnesota for its undemocratic arrests of protestors against the Line 3 pipeline which would transport crude oil from Canada to the United States under native lands.
We condemn the Trump administration for allowing such a pipeline to take hold fully knowing the environmental damages and violation of native land.
We condemn the Biden administration for its obscene lack of decency, by pretending to be a defender of liberty to get elected while in practice destroying the environment and sovereignty of indigenous people.
We condemn them all to be judged by history as perpetrators of consistent violations of some of the most basic human rights.
We stand by the protestors that courageously fought (and continue to fight) against the pipeline.
We stand by New Jersey resident, veteran, national guard member Richard Avvenire who was arrested protesting the actions of the democratic Minnesota governor. He and 68 others engaged in a sit-in in front of the governor’s mansion, and were arrested and beaten for this nonviolent act. After the arbitrary arrest, the protestors were not read their rights or given an opportunity for a phone call.
“We were not read our rights,” said Richard Avvenire. “They did not allow us to have a phone call. I was in a cell by myself and stayed in solitary confinement for 2 days. We were given no rec time, and even when I specifically said I was vegetarian they didn’t provide. And we weren’t charged with anything and they knew they weren’t gonna charge us with anything. They just did it to try to prevent us from doing it again.
Any pipeline going through indigenous lands is abhorrent. Not only did we take indigenous peoples’ lands in the beginning of this country, but now we use it for our own purposes and the purposes of CANADIAN corporations. This is a fight for the environment, and for the indigenous people who live on these lands.”
What followed was two days in undemocratic imprisonment, which culminated in the protestors getting kicked to the curb. Luckily good Samaritans in the area provided these activists with shelter after their ordeal. Shame on all parties involved in the matter, and shame on the members of the Democratic party. They are nothing but wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights states that “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.” The democratic administration in Minnesota violated this, yet under the two party system in Minnesota there will be no consequences. This is the United States of America, after all, where the ruling class rules with impunity through a dictatorial party that masquerades as two.
We must continue to fight against oppression and vote our principles over party. If anything has shown us that we have no time to wait for incremental steps to wean the country off dependence on fossil fuels, Wednesday’s storm and accompanying floods and tornadoes should provide that motivation.
