Climate justice is inseparable from social justice. Extractive industries, like Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline, pose not only a threat to our land and resources but also to the safety and well-being of our people.
Large construction projects, such as Line 3, come with a dark side: The camps of workers, known as “man camps,” have been linked to increased rates of sexual violence, murder, and disappearances of Indigenous women. This not only makes pipelines an intersectional issue, impacting Indigenous communities more than any other group, but it also perpetuates gendered violence, disproportionately affecting Indigenous women.
The alarming reality is that the violence surrounding the pipeline is on the rise. Recent undercover investigations have directly linked exploitation and trafficking to Enbridge workers, resulting in the arrest of two out-of-state pipeline workers for attempting to solicit sex with minors. Moreover, shelters and advocates in northern Minnesota are seeing a surge in cases of sexual assault directly linked to contractors building Line 3, as well as an increase in reports of sexual harassment at local businesses since construction began.
We cannot turn a blind eye to this crisis. We must come together and demand justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People, while also fighting for the justice that Mother Earth deserves.
Support the fight for justice and healing for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives (MMIR) by joining MN350’s efforts. Your involvement helps amplify Indigenous voices, push for policy change, and strengthen community-led solutions.
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For more information or to get involved, contact Jessica Smith at jessica@mn350.org.