On October 23rd, 2017, a group of 84 members of Congress addressed a letter to Attorney General Sessions concerning nonviolent direct action against crude oil pipelines. The letter, supported by the American Petroleum Institute, Association of Oil Pipe Lines, and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, aims to portray the climate movement in a negative light and fabricate a threat to justify further criminalization of dissent against the fossil fuel industry. Rather than prioritizing the protection of current and future generations from the devastating impacts of climate change, these members of Congress are prioritizing the interests of their fossil fuel industry backers, risking the well-being of their constituents.
The letter initiates the process of broadening the Patriot Act and domestic terrorism laws to target individuals who resist fossil fuel infrastructure. However, the accusation of terrorism is based on a misrepresentation, as violence against human beings has never been a part of the climate movement’s agenda. The only violent reference cited in the letter is a misinterpretation of a letter to the editor published in a local newspaper in Boulder, Colorado. This attempt to defame the climate movement and suppress dissent is unfounded and seeks to undermine free speech.
Contrary to the claims made by the fossil fuel industry-backed Representatives, anti-pipeline activists have not engaged in violent acts such as burning holes in active pipelines or tampering with pipeline pump stations. The climate movement has consistently employed nonviolent tactics, including marches, disruptions of fossil fuel infrastructure construction, and blockades of coal trains and ships, with the aim of protecting life and averting climate catastrophe.
The letter’s proponents, influenced by significant financial contributions from the fossil fuel industry, prioritize short-term profits over addressing the urgent threat of climate change. Representative Ken Buck (R-CO), who initiated the letter, received substantial campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry during his 2016 re-election campaign. If successful, the expansion of domestic terrorism laws could lead to activists facing life imprisonment under “terrorist enhancement” labels, subjecting them to conditions tantamount to torture.
It is imperative to resist this legislative agenda that seeks to persecute activists and stifle dissent. The United States government’s close ties to the fossil fuel industry, coupled with its failure to adequately address climate change, highlight the urgent need for grassroots movements and nonviolent direct action to effect meaningful change. With traditional avenues of legislative advocacy compromised by industry influence, activists must look to alternative strategies to reclaim government accountability and ensure a just and livable future for all.