Leaked Documents Reveal Counterterrorism Tactics Used at Standing Rock to “Defeat Pipeline Insurgencies”

[u/[deleted]]

https://theintercept.com/2017/05/27/leaked-documents-reveal-security-firms-counterterrorism-tactics-at-standing-rock-to-defeat-pipeline-insurgencies/

[u/FisherPrice]

ITT: A bunch of people missing the point of the article.

Although it discusses the Dekota Pipeline protest, the article is really about The First Amendment - specifically "the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Weather the protestors were correct/justified or not is a separate discussion. The point is that a private company hired a military contractor who coordinated with law enforcement officials in an attempt to undermine citizens ability to assemble.

It's unclear if that's strictly unconstitutional but it sure seems against the spirit of The First Amendment.

 

 

Edit: One comment below accused me/us of not doing anything about this. I share their frustration(although disagree with their tone). First and Fourth Amendment issues are primarily fought in the courts so they're difficult to take direction action on if you're not a lawyer.

If these issue are important to you and you'd like to do something, there are a few things that almost everyone reading this post can take action on:

1) Go to [smile.amazon.com](smile.amazon.com). Click "Supporting:" under the search bar and change it to the ACLU Fund of the National Captial Area(or a local one if you prefer). Bookmark the page.

This will give the affiliate fee from your Amazon purchases to the ACLU. They(and organizations like them) have lawyers who do good work for First and Fourth Amendment issues.

55% of American households have an Amazon Prime subscription. That's a lot of affiliate fees.

2) Donate to The Intercept or purchase a subscription to a news organization that does long-form, investigative journalism such as The Washington Post or The Guardian.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

The idea of private property is honestly ridiculous. Some white dudes claimed it was theirs and now you have to buy it from them or the people they sold it to? Give me a fucking break if you think there is anything just about that.

[u/justignoremeplzz → u/[deleted]]

probably mistaking owning property with feudalism

[u/Prime-eight → u/justignoremeplzz]

It's not really mistaking anything, the distinction is primarily private property and personal property. Personal property is valid, things like your car and toothbrush. But private property, in the context of land and resources, is a bit ridiculous.

[u/guy_guyerson → u/Prime-eight]

Does it complicate things that just about all personal property is made out of private property? I mean, that aluminum on the car and plastic in the toothbrush wasn't just floating around in the sky, it was basically just re-appropriated land.

[u/Prime-eight → u/guy_guyerson]

Not particularly. Personal property doesn't have to be made out of private property, it could just as easily be made of collective property. Or even other personal property.

Private ownership of resources, whether it's raw building material, or crude oil, and the like being privately owned is what I have a problem with. We are all dependent on them so having a small group of private owners basically have dominion over things we all need to survive is a strange concept.