A North Dakota jury has ordered Greenpeace to pay over USD $660 million in damages to oil company Energy Transfer after finding the environmental group liable for defamation linked to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests.
The lawsuit accused Greenpeace of orchestrating an unlawful scheme to financially harm Energy Transfer through violent demonstrations.
Greenpeace, which plans to appeal, argued it did not lead the protests and warned the ruling threatens free speech, while claiming indigenous leaders spearheaded the opposition to the pipeline.
The protests drew over 10,000 people and took place from 2016 to 2017.
Critics of the verdict say it raises concerns about potential chilling effects on environmental activism and public interest litigation.
Greenpeace ordered to pay Energy Transfer $667mn over 2016, 2017 Dakota Access pipeline protests
Standing Rock Sioux argued the pipeline threatened their water supply, but the environmental group were found guilty of defamation, trespass, nuisance, and civil conspiracy pic.twitter.com/HSxBY2zIqA
— RT (@RT_com) March 20, 2025
They will appeal until they find a Activist judge.
Golden.
Yeah, bankrupt them.