Enbridge spokesperson Juli Kellner said in a statement the company is "pleased with this decision that acknowledges the thorough, inclusive and science-based review of the Line 3 replacement project."
How much of the often violent activism against things like oil development and oil pipelines is an organic part of American politics, and how much of it was the result of Russian manipulations and inducements?
The Herald and others in the company have posted numerous pieces about Line 3, originating from our own reporters, from our opinion writers, from companies with whom we have content-sharing agreements and from oh-so-many letter-writers.
Activists and tribal leaders hope the totem pole calls President Joe Biden's attention to protect culturally significant sites across the country that are threatened by climate change and the fossil fuel industry.
It's worth noting that Line 3 is being built through the Fond du Lac Band's lands. The tribe was initially against the project, but after negotiations, were able to reach an accord with Enbridge, much to the consternation of the aforementioned activists. The Leech Lake Band also opposed the pipeline initially until Enbridge obliged them with a shift in the pipeline's route. These are important facts.
"Protests that disrupt work, damage property, and threaten our employees while claiming to be on behalf of our Native people is creating additional tension and consequences within our tribal communities," a group of tribal contractors wrote in a letter responding to violent protests against the Line 3 pipeline.
There are extremists on the right, most notably in Donald Trump's movement, and that needs to be taken seriously. What also needs to be taken seriously are the extremists that exist in the environmentalist movement.
These organizations plan for the arrests. They plan for the activities that will lead to the arrests. They force law enforcement into a quandary, forced to choose between allowing activists to trespass and harass and disrupt with impunity, or make mass arrests that will almost certainly be portrayed negatively.
