NEW: Police preparing for Keystone XL pipeline protests have privately discussed tactics to stop activists “by any means” and have labeled demonstrators potential “domestic terrorism” threats, records reveal. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/25/keystone-xl-protests-pipeline-activism-environment
Keystone XL: police discussed stopping anti-pipeline activists 'by any means'

Records seen by the Guardian show law enforcement has called demonstrators possible ‘domestic terrorism’ threats

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/25/keystone-xl-protests-pipeline-activism-environment
In one briefing with US Army Corps of Engineers + other agencies, law enforcement said a key tactic would be to “initially deny access to the property by protestors and keep them as far away from the contested locations as possible by any means,” internal emails show.
A “joint terrorism task force” involving the US Attorney’s Office and “counterterrorism” officials said it was prepared to assist in response to protests, and a “critical incident response team” would be available for “domestic terrorism or threats to critical infrastructure”
Officials with the Bureau of Land Management said BLM had 10 armed officers in Montana and was prepared to “work with local law enforcement to deny access to federal property.” Officials have also discussed preemptively closing public lands near the pipeline route.
Authorities have also preemptively discussed specific potential felony charges that protesters could face, noting that a “civil disorder” statute was used to prosecute activists at Standing Rock.
From BLM emails on potential Keystone XL protests: “The FBI will have primary investigative authority for all national security investigations, including but not limited to international terrorism, domestic terrorism, and weapons of mass destruction."
Border Patrol has also said it would be available to assist law enforcement around the border and has access to “drone assets," the emails show. Border Patrol previously provided a surveillance drone that police used to track Standing Rock activists. https://theintercept.com/2019/08/25/border-patrol-israel-elbit-surveillance/
The U.S. Border Patrol and an Israeli Military Contractor Are Putting a Native American Reservation...

Elbit Systems, which touts its products as “field-proven” on Palestinians, was contracted to build a high-tech surveillance system on Tohono O’odham land.

https://theintercept.com/2019/08/25/border-patrol-israel-elbit-surveillance/
BLM has also discussed purchasing “riot batons,” helmets and gas masks in advance of possible demonstrations, the records show.
North Dakota police officials involved in Standing Rock have met with agencies that may respond to Keystone demonstrations to discuss “lessons learned”. They said that one of their biggest mistakes was their failure to keep activists far away + shut down access to nearby lands.
Indigenous organizers from the Fort Peck reservation told me and @willparrishca that they won't be intimidated and are organizing.

“Law enforcement are getting ready. They’ve been having meetings behind closed doors" -Angeline Cheek. “We’ve been preparing for the last 3 years”
The records, obtained by @ACLUMT + shared with @guardian, have raised concerns that law enforcement is preparing to launch an even more brutal + aggressive response than the police tactics utilized during the Standing Rock movement. A reminder of what happened in 2016 and after:
-Water cannons, beanbags, stinger rounds, teargas grenades, pepper spray, Mace, Tasers + more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/29/standing-rock-protest-north-dakota-shutdown-evacuation

-Activists suffering brutal injuries: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/04/standing-rock-marcus-mitchell-shooting-charges, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/22/dakota-access-pipeline-protester-seriously-hurt-during-police-standoff-standing-rock

-FBI terrorism investigations + surveillance: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/10/standing-rock-fbi-investigation-dakota-access
Revealed: FBI terrorism taskforce investigating Standing Rock activists

FBI representatives have contacted several ‘water protectors’, raising alarm that an indigenous-led movement is being construed as domestic terrorism

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/29/standing-rock-protest-north-dakota-shutdown-evacuation
Years after Standing Rock, activists continued to face aggressive local + federal prosecution and prison time:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/22/standing-rock-jailed-activists-water-protectors

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/18/standing-rock-activists-justice-department-new-arrests https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/30/north-dakota-access-pipeline-standing-rock-legal-fine-threats
'Bogus charges': Standing Rock activists say they face campaign of legal bullying

Native American protesters claim that threats of fines and criminal charges, many which later unravel in court, are designed to silence their efforts

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/22/standing-rock-jailed-activists-water-protectors
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