Charges against three activists were dismissed for attempting to shut off crude oil pipelines. | Canva
Charges against three activists were dismissed for attempting to shut off crude oil pipelines. | Canva
Three climate change activists' charges have been dismissed by a Minnesota judge after the activists attempted to close two Enbridge Energy crude oil pipelines.
The pipelines were located in northwestern Minnesota, where Clearwater County District Judge Robert Tiffany said there was no damage and, therefore, ruled to dismiss the charges, CBS Minnesota reported.
After the prosecution failed to show damage to the pipelines, the case was thrown out before a "necessity defense" could be presented by protesters to the jury, CBS Minnesota reported.
Two of the activists, Emily Johnston and Annette Klapstein, both from the Seattle area, did admit to turning off two pipelines' valves in 2016. This action was part of a coordinated plan across four U.S. states, CBS Minnesota reported. The two women were charged with felonies for these crimes.
Johnston, Klapstein and a third activist were going to argue that climate change poses a threat, especially from the Canadian tar sands crude oil.
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