Greenpeace Faces $660M Fine Over Pipeline Protests: Justice or Political Attack?
A North Dakota jury awarded Energy Transfer $660 million in its lawsuit against Greenpeace, finding the environmental group liable for defamation and other claims related to 2016-2017 Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Greenpeace denies the claims, asserting the lawsuit aims to suppress peaceful protest and free speech, a concern echoed by constitutional rights experts. The verdict, which Greenpeace plans to appeal, raises significant concerns about the chilling effect on activism and the fairness of the trial given the jury’s composition and alleged bias. The case is viewed by many as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP), intended to silence critics.
John Q. Hosedrinker