Slate News What Next | The Lawsuit Scaring Protesters
Jun 24, 2025
Alleen Brown, an independent investigative reporter and editor at Drilled, dives into the implications of a massive lawsuit against Greenpeace tied to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests. She discusses how this unprecedented financial judgment could intimidate activists across the country. Brown also unpacks the legal tactics used to suppress protests today, including law enforcement infiltration and the rise of SLAPP lawsuits. The discussion emphasizes the ongoing challenges for social movements, particularly those fighting for environmental and indigenous rights.
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Origins of Standing Rock Protests
- Standing Rock protests began with indigenous activists opposing the pipeline near their water source.
- It attracted a growing crowd due to police and private security violence incidents.
Greenpeace as Lawsuit Target
- Greenpeace's role at Standing Rock was minor but targeted due to its brand and reputation.
- The lawsuit aims to intimidate with a major environmental group's name as a symbol.
Lawsuit's RICO Strategy
- The lawsuit used RICO to label Greenpeace's social movement as a criminal conspiracy.
- This equates protest solidarity with organized crime to scare activist support.