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Who: Artist and cultural organizer Shanai Matteson of Palisade, MN, is being charged with a Gross Misdemeanor for allegedly ‘Conspiring, aiding and abetting criminal trespass on critical public infrastructure pipeline’ during the movement to Stop the Line 3 oil pipeline. She has pled ‘not guilty’ to these charges and will now face a jury trial in Aitkin County.When: Wednesday July 13th, Thursday July 14th and Friday, July 15th starting each day at 8:30am to 4pm
Where: Aitkin County Courthouse at 209 2nd St NW, Aitkin, MN 56431
What: You are invited to gather at 8:30am to hold space and rally outside the courthouse. We will have drummers; breakfast and lunch will be served. Those entering the courtroom will witness defendant Shanai Matteson in court as she faces a jury and tells the story of the blatant violation of her and others' first amendment rights.
Bring: Artwork and some friends. If you feel comfortable, wear formal court clothes.
Why: The river has a right to life, which is now threatened by Enbridge’s aquifer breaches, toxic drilling fluids, and tar sands pipeline. Together with Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources – which received over $2 million in expense reimbursements from Enbridge – the Canadian oil giant circumvented the intent of their water permits and water appropriation suspensions, in direct violation of Anishinaabe treaty rights and ongoing stewardship.
MN law enforcement, reimbursed $8.6 million to date by Enbridge, made over 1000 arrests of those peacefully representing the water’s rights during construction.
Ask Governor Tim Walz to #DropTheCharges against the #WaterProtectors who tried to #StopLine3: www.dropline3charges.com
Let's continue gathering to support the hundreds of Water Protectors still facing hearings and trials across Northern Minnesota. They put themselves in harm’s way to defend sacred water and wild rice, treaties and climate, and now unjustly carry the burden of criminal charges, while Enbridge walks free.
We will also be hosting an evening event at the Welcome Water Protectors camp in Palisade on Thursday the 14th with music and community activities ~ to celebrate our love for the land and water ~ and to learn about the ongoing impacts of Line 3, as well as new threats to water and Indigenous rights posed by deforestation and mining projects.
Even if court is canceled we will still hold these events in solidarity of having charges dropped against all Water Protectors.
As the court system is now flooded with Line 3 cases, some charges have been dropped, and other hearings and trials have been postponed. Matteson is one of the first people charged in Aitkin County who will be having a jury trial, and may be the only one who is being charged with ‘conspiracy’ based upon a speech she made and her role as a movement organizer.
These charges, and many of the other charges made on 1/9/21 – especially those targeting Native women who are visible leaders in the movement to stop Line 3 – were the result of surveillance on Facebook and elsewhere, on and offline.
Matteson is a non-native woman who grew-up in the town of Palisade, in northern Aitkin County, where her family settled 6 generations ago… She is a cultural organizer who moved back to the area almost 2 years ago to be part of the Stop Line 3 movement and to continue organizing for safe water, climate justice, and Indigenous rights.
All of these charges were made to intimidate those who have or would speak up about the injustices they witness surrounding extraction, and bring up a number of important issues, including the erosion of rights to free speech and protest, what it means to be a treaty partner, the influence of Enbridge and other corporate funding on law enforcement activities, and the role of social media and other surveillance in the prosecution of movement activists.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Aitkin County Courthouse and Jail, Aitkin, United States