“Anti-pipeline activists and film-makers face prison, raising fears for free press”, 30 January 2017

Climate change activists and film-makers who documented their anti-pipeline demonstrations are facing criminal charges and hefty prison sentences…that have raised concerns about press intimidation and the targeting of peaceful protesters. The slew of upcoming trials…stem from a series of coordinated actions on 11 October 2016 aimed at shutting down oil sands pipelines. Nine criminal cases include several filed against film-makers and live-streamers who recorded protesters closing the emergency valves on pipelines…The court cases…come at a time of increasing anxiety for journalists and activists surrounding the arrest and aggressive prosecution of reporters and protesters critical of US government and powerful corporations…Lawmakers in multiple states have also recently pursued new laws aimed at restricting protests…The October #ShutItDown protests were organized in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s fight against the Dakota Access pipeline…[and] have also led to serious criminal charges…Even when cases against journalists are ultimately tossed, the initial charges can have a chilling effect…