Several Minnesota legislators responded to an upcoming visit from members of the “Squad” that will be taking place on Friday afternoon. According to a press release from Representative Ilhan Omar’s (D-05-MN) office, they are planning to speak out against Line 3.
Representatives Michelle Fischbach (R-07-MN), Pete Stauber (R-08-MN), and Tom Emmer (R-06-MN) issued a statement saying that Representatives Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush (D-01-MO), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-14-NY), Ayanna Pressley (D-07-MA), and Rashida Tlaib (D-13-MI) are “seeking soundbites.”
The press release from Stauber, Fischbach, and Emmer said, “Even after a litany of court decisions affirming the Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline Replacement Project, and even with construction more than 90 percent complete, the misguided push to stop the pipeline using any means possible continues. The multi-billion-dollar pipeline project is the most studied of its kind in Minnesota; a visit by a few out-of-town congresswomen isn’t going to stop it.”
The “Squad” is planning on visiting Minnesota on Labor Day weekend to speak out in opposition to the constriction on the Enbridge pipeline, Line 3. According to a tweet, they are not publicly disclosing the location for their Friday press conference or any other locations for events taking place over the weekend.
The Squad is coming to Minnesota to support the Line 3 protest and meet with Winona LaDuke pic.twitter.com/wXBawHDo5G
— Kyle Hooten (@KyleHooten2) August 31, 2021
Rep. Omar’s office did not respond to The Minnesota Sun’s RSVP both over the phone and by email for the press conference as of Thursday evening.
According to Fischbach’s office, “The Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline Replacement Project aims to replace an existing, deteriorating crude oil pipeline that extends from Edmonton, Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin.” As of September 2021, the pipeline is 90% finished.
According to the release, Emmer, Fischbach, and Stauber said, “People in Minnesota support Line 3 because Line 3 supports Minnesota’s energy needs.”
The Minnesota legislators also take issue with the lack of involvement thus far from the congresswomen, saying that they are missing a crucial part of the picture.
“They say it’s about the impacts of the pipeline on Indigenous people, but they have not met with the many Native American contractors who are currently on-site assembling the pipeline. They say it’s about tribal sovereignty, but they fail to note the agreements reached with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. They say it’s about people, but they have not engaged with the cities, counties, and local businesses that have already benefited from the project.”
Line 3 has been criticized by environmentalists and “water protectors” for months, with protests taking place frequently. Last weekend, one of the protests was declared unlawful and ended with 69 protesters being arrested for “disorderly conduct, third-degree riot and felony threats of violence.”
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Hayley Tschetter is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun | Star News Network. Follow Hayley on Twitter or like her Facebook page. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “The Squad” by Ilhan Omar.
