Line 3 Protesters Face Charges

<p>Of the hundreds of demonstrators who protested in front of the governor’s mansion over the weekend, dozens now face charges. Tiffany Bui reports.</p><p>--</p><p>Line 3 Protesters Face Charges</p><p><br></p><p>Of the hundreds of demonstrators who protested in front of the governor’s mansion over the weekend, dozens now face charges. </p><p><br></p><p>Tiffany Bui reports that  69 people were arrested Saturday, according to the Ramsey County jail roster.</p><p><br></p><p>Some protesters were booked on multiple charges, such as rioting, terroristic threats and damage to property. Jaike Spotted Wolf is a leader of Migizi Camp, an Indigenous-led collective that was one of the main organizers of the protests. Spotted Wolf said the police response and the charges were not proportionate to what was largely a nonviolent protest.</p><p><br></p><p>“What one procures in their mind of what constitutes a riot would be, smashing windows and property destruction and violence sometimes,” Spotted Wolf said. “ And that was not the case, during this particular action … most people were either just standing around behind caution tape, or sitting down on the ground with locked arms.” </p><p><br></p><p>Spotted Wolf said protesters booked into the Ramsey County Jail were slowly being released in groups, where other activists are providing food, water and other support. </p><p><br></p><p>The mass arrests followed several days of protests against the pipeline construction headed by Canadian company Enbridge Energy. All last week, demonstrators showed up at the state capitol for a series of Indigenous-led protests called Treaties over Tar Sands.</p><p><br></p><p>Activists say<a href="https://truthout.org/articles/over-800-water-protectors-have-been-arrested-since-line-3-pipeline-was-approved/"> over 800 protesters have been arrested</a> since the Line 3 permit was approved in November 2020. Jaike Spotted Wolf said pipeline opponents have good reason to be active.</p><p><br></p><p>“It's all to bring awareness to the devastation t