MN350 Pipeline Resistance Team
At the 2015 Tar Sands Resistance March, then-Congressman Keith Ellison took a stand against crude oil pipelines. He talked about how the oil industry prioritizes making money over real human consequences. He told us that there were members of the Minnesota State Legislature standing and fighting with us. (You can watch his full speech here.) However, since he was elected to the office of the Attorney General, Ellison has not taken action or even a public stance against Line 3.
This is not a matter of lacking authority. In June, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit to decommission Enbridge’s Line 5, which passes under the Straits of Mackinac. AG Nessel has said repeatedly that she will use her authority to shut down Line 5, as it presents a serious oil spill risk to Lakes Michigan and Huron. Here in Minnesota, the Court of Appeals just threw out Line 3’s environmental review because the spill risks to Lake Superior were never even studied.
As a publicly elected official, the Attorney General’s job is to take legal action to uphold Minnesota’s laws. Enbridge has admitted in its own application that the pipeline will not comply with Minnesota’s environmental and routing standards. Between the Court of Appeals decision and this blatant disregard for Minnesota’s laws, the very legality of the Line 3 project is in question.
We agree with AG Ellison that human consequences must take priority over oil industry interests. Now, we need him to use his authority to take action against Line 3.
Sign this petition to tell the Attorney General that we want Keith Ellison back!
Learn more about our Line 3 campaign here. The next Pipeline Resistance Team (PRT) meeting will be Thursday, August 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the MN350 Office at 4407 East Lake Street, Minneapolis! Contact margaret@mn350.org for more info.
Julia Evelyn is a senior at Macalester College and an enthusiastic intern with MN350’s Pipeline Resistance Team. Though originally from New York, she loves living here in the Twin Cities and enjoying all that Minnesota has to offer. In her spare time she likes to read, spend time outdoors, and eat good food with good friends.
