Washington, DC (August 1, 2024) – Greenpeace USA on Thursday launched a new campaign to defend freedom of expression in the United States and save Greenpeace USA from a corporate intimidation tactic designed to shutter the storied environmental and climate organization. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the $300 million strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) filed in North Dakota court against Greenpeace by the oil pipeline company Energy Transfer (ET), which owns a majority stake in the Dakota Access Pipeline.
In that lawsuit, Energy Transfer claims that Greenpeace organized the 2016-2017 Standing Rock resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline – a false claim that attempts to abuse the legal system to silence dissenting views. The case goes to trial in North Dakota in February 2025, where Energy Transfer is seeking a judgment of $300 million – an amount that would functionally bankrupt Greenpeace USA.
“No matter who you are, no matter what your politics are, this is one of the most important issues in America right now,” said Rolf Skar, spokesperson for Greenpeace USA. “Energy Transfer built the Dakota Access Pipeline. But they’re suing anyway in order to send a message: if you dare to oppose us, we will financially ruin you. The whole point of this type of lawsuit is to limit freedom of expression, so even if you don’t care about climate change, or you don’t care about Greenpeace, you should pay attention. What’s at stake isn’t just Greenpeace or environmentalism, but the fundamental American rights to freedom of peaceful expression and advocacy for all of us.”
An open letter to Energy Transfer was signed by more than 290 organizations including 350.org, Public Citizen, ACLU North Dakota, SEIU, Indigenous Environmental Network, and Amnesty International USA (view full organization list) along with public figures such as Billie Eilish, Jane Fonda, Adam McKay, and Susan Sarandon – plus tens of thousands of individuals.
“Amnesty International USA stands steadfast with Greenpeace USA in their fight against Big Oil’s attempt to punish and silence a strong advocate for environmental rights and climate justice for its fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline,” said Justin Mazzola, Researcher, Amnesty International USA. “As we experience the continual warming of our planet year over year due to the burning of fossil fuels, we need Greenpeace USA now more than ever to advocate and be a strong voice for the communities most at risk from the impacts of the climate crisis, rather than defending itself against retaliatory lawfare.”
As SLAPPs are a growing threat, most states have put legal protections in place to protect advocates. But in North Dakota – and 17 other states – no anti-SLAPP statutes exist. Last Congress, Rep. Jamie Raskin introduced the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) Protection Act to deter other corporations from filing SLAPP suits and to protect everyone’s right to speak out against injustice.
“The case against Greenpeace illustrates how mega-corporations can use lawsuits to silence, intimidate and ruin their critics,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, sponsor of the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) Protection Act set to be reintroduced in the US Congress in September 2024. “America must demand, and Congress must pass, bipartisan legislation to protect First Amendment rights against ruinous litigation practices.”
Partner Quotes
“The lawsuit against Greenpeace is also an attack on the Indigenous movement in our fight for self-determination to protect Mother Earth, our waters, sacred and cultural sites and our youth and future generations. These colonialist lawsuits are trying to send a warning to anyone who might consider speaking out and to be quiet – any of you could be next.” – Morgan Brings Plenty, Standing Rock Youth Council
“Everyone who says they care about freedom – of whatever political stripe – should join together to support the Greenpeace campaign to protect people’s right to speak out against corporate abuses. As Greenpeace knows from its own experience, too often corporations use their political, economic and legal power not just to run PR campaigns justifying their wrongdoing, but to threaten public interest advocates with bad-faith lawsuits (SLAPPs) and other intimidation tactics.” – Robert Weissman, Co-president of Public Citizen
“Protesters and advocacy groups should never have to fear the weight of groups like ETP [Energy Transfer Partners] as a condition for expressing their First Amendment rights. The court should see this lawsuit for what it is and toss it.” – Brian Hauss, Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU
“No matter how hard they try, corporate powers will never silence the voice of the people. Working alongside movement allies, we know our collective pursuit of liberation and transformative change endangers what corporations like Energy Transfer rely on: a status quo built on injustice. We know this through our year-round issue-based and electoral organizing. TOP is proud to be in solidarity with Greenpeace as it fights this shameful attempt to stifle dissent and protest.” – David Villalobos, Political Director of Texas Organizing Project (TOP)
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Contact: Lindsay Bigda, Greenpeace USA Communications Director, Democracy Resilience Program: [email protected] | 207-385-7924
Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.
