Greenpeace Gave Intel, Supplies, Training to Dakota Access Pipeline Protests According to Testimony

Oceti Sakowin Camp on the edge of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images via the North Dakota Monitor)

(By: Mary Steurer and Amy Dalrymple.North Dakota Monitor) – Greenpeace provided supplies, intel and training to demonstrators who spent months camping near the Dakota Access Pipeline river crossing in south central North Dakota, employees said in video testimony played to a Morton County jury.

The organization brought supplies like tents, power tools, a van equipped with solar panels, cameras, binoculars and propane. They taught protesters about “nonviolent direct action.” As colder weather approached, they also helped to winterize the camp.

Then-executive director of Greenpeace USA Annie Leonard characterized the environmental group’s support of the 2016 and 2017 protests as “massive” in two emails shown to jurors.

But Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier, the incident commander for the months long protests, indicated on the witness stand he was not aware of Greenpeace’s involvement.