Greenpeace loss will embolden big oil and gas to pursue protesters: ‘No one will feel safe’

Billionaire oligarchs like Elon Musk and Energy Transfer’s Kelcy Warren now pose one of the most significant risks to free speech globally,

Kadidal said

If companies can sue critics, advocates and protesters into oblivion for their speech and the unlawful acts of third parties, then no one will feel safe protesting corporate malfeasance,

Hauss said

Ultimately, this isn’t about the money for them,

Raman said of Energy Transfer

Nonprofits, religious groups, and others will be much more reluctant to support or organize protected protests if they face possible penalties for the unlawful actions of others,

the center said in its analysis

They can think twice now about doing it again,

he said of Greenpeace and other environmental groups who protested the Dakota Access pipeline

It’s just that by filing a lawsuit, in and of itself, that often makes people fearful to speak out, makes people fearful to protest,

Blake Klinkner, a law professor at the University of North Dakota, told Niina and Robin

They’re not issuing an executive order that said, ‘Get rid of FEMA.’ They’re issuing an executive order saying they’re going to do a 240-day review of resilience strategy, which is a good thing to do,

said Sarah Labowitz, a disaster expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

It’s far bigger than the environmental movement,

said Garbus, who has represented high-profile clients including Nelson Mandela, Cesar Chavez and Daniel Ellsberg

It sends a dangerous message: that fossil fuel giants can weaponize the courts to bankrupt and silence those who challenge the destruction of our planet,

said Anne Jellema, executive director of advocacy group 350.org

We will continue to resist and hold corporations accountable because our future depends on it,

Oil Change International echoed that tone ... said the group's U.S. campaign manager Collin Rees

No abusive company, lawsuit, or court decision will change that,

she said in a statement on Wednesday after the verdict was handed down

This kind of activity is becoming increasingly common across climate action, with fossil fuel actors undermining progress wherever possible,

he said

The right to protest is under threat across the world, from big corporations and self-interested politicians who threaten our democracies,

she said

This ruling is a blatant attempt to silence dissent and crush the power of grassroots activism,

the group said in a statement

The case is an attempt to silence our Tribe about the truth of what happened at Standing Rock, and the threat posed by DAPL to our land, our water and our people. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe will not be silenced,

the statement said

It is also a day of celebration for the constitution, the state of North Dakota and Energy Transfer,

he said following the decision

Big Oil bullies around the world will continue to try to silence free speech and peaceful protest, but the fight against Energy Transfer’s meritless SLAPP lawsuit is not over,

the organisation said

At a time when the world needs people to stand up against an obvious erosion of rights in this country, we must recognise the verdict against Greenpeace is designed to instil fear and discourage people from exercising their constitutional right to protest,

Jeanne Mirer, president of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, said

This ruling attempts to silence those who stand against the destructive power of fossil fuel corporations. However, this struggle will not end, and we will not be intimidated,

he told The Independent

What we saw over these three weeks was Energy Transfer’s blatant disregard for the voices of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe,

said Deepa Padmanabha, senior legal advisor, Greenpeace USA