A U.S. court has ruled against the environmental organization Greenpeace, finding it guilty of defamation and other violations against the company Energy Transfer. The lawsuit was filed in connection with protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
A jury in North Dakota ordered Greenpeace to pay several hundred million dollars in compensation. The plaintiff company claimed that the organization deliberately spread false information, funded protesters, and obstructed construction. Greenpeace disputes these allegations, stating that the charges are an attack on free speech and the right to peaceful protest.
The case stems from demonstrations in 2016–2017 against the pipeline, which the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe argued posed a threat to their water sources. Despite the protests, the pipeline was put into operation in 2017.
Greenpeace representative Deepa Padmanabha emphasized that the organization does not intend to back down and is considering filing an appeal to challenge the court’s decision.
