Climate Defense Project Berkeley, CA November 20, 2017 On Friday, Climate Defense Project (CDP) filed a first-of-its kind brief in a Washington state climate necessity case, arguing that the government’s failure to protect the climate under the public trust doctrine justifies activists’ use of direct action. The brief argues that state and federal authorities are...
Valve Turner Ken Ward has filed an appeal of the denial of his climate necessity defense. Climate Defense Project is working on the appeal, as is the Civil Liberties Defense Center, which has issued the following press release: PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2017 Contact: Lauren Regan, 541.687.9180 Valve Turner Appeals Court Refusal...
Climate Defense Project October 17, 2017 info@climatedefenseproject.org Berkeley, CA — A judge in Spokane, WA has ruled that a climate activist may present evidence that his act of civil disobedience was motivated by the urgent need to address the climate crisis. Monday’s ruling comes in the wake of a similar ruling in a Minnesota case,...
Climate Defense Project October 14, 2017 info@climatedefenseproject.org Berkeley, CA — Climate activists secured a significant victory on Friday when a Minnesota judge issued a written opinion allowing the presentation of the climate necessity defense at a jury trial. The case stems from a set of coordinated “Shut It Down” actions last October, when activists across...
From our allies at Climate Direct Action: Contact: Stephen Kent, skent@kentcom.com , 914-589-5988 [Cavalier, North Dakota – October 6, 2017] The landmark trial of Michael Foster, a mental health counselor in his 50s from Seattle, just ended in conviction on several felony charges for his action of shutting off the emergency valve on the Keystone 1 tar sands pipeline...
On July 24th, Ruby Montoya and Jessica Reznicek publicly explained how and why they had disrupted construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline for months. They detailed how they targeted pipeline infrastructure, and stated: “[C]ourts and public officials allowed these corporations to steal permissions from landowners and brutalize the land, water, and people. Our conclusion is...
From our allies at Climate Direct Action: June 23, 2017 Contact: Jay O’Hara 7743130881 oharjo@gmail.com Sabotage Charge Dropped; Ward and Supporters Vow to Overturn His One Remaining Conviction [Mt. Vernon, Washington — June 23, 2017] Climate activist Ken Ward, the “valve turner” who was arrested and prosecuted for closing the emergency valve on an oil sands...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 7, 2017 Contact: Kelsey Skaggs Climate Defense Project (510) 883-3118 kelsey@climatedefenseproject.org Mount Vernon, WA — Following controversial court rulings restricting his right to present a defense, climate activist Ken Ward received a split verdict today in a trial in Skagit County, Washington. Mr. Ward was found guilty of burglary, a Class...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 10, 2017 Contact: Kelsey Skaggs Climate Defense Project (510) 883-3118 kelsey@climatedefenseproject.org Jay O’Hara Climate Disobedience Center (774) 313-0881 jay@climatedisobedience.org Mount Vernon, WA — A Washington state judge has ruled that Ken Ward, a climate activist who who helped to temporarily block the flow of tar sands oil from Canada to the...
On March 4, as part of a panel discussion at the University of Oregon School of Law’s annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, CDP Co-Founder and Executive Director Kelsey Skaggs spoke about the necessity defense and its applicability to climate activism. The discussion — which also featured law professors Tom Lininger and Lance Long, activist...
