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South Dakota to Drop “Riot Boosting” Law Targeting Pipeline Protesters

HeadlineOct 25, 2019

In South Dakota, environmentalists are declaring victory after the state’s Republican governor and attorney general agreed not to enforce laws allowing draconian fines and prison terms for protesters opposing oil and gas pipelines. Under the Riot Boosting Act, protest organizers faced up to 25 years behind bars. The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed Thursday’s settlement agreement, calling the law an unconstitutional attempt to silence protesters of the Keystone XL pipeline. The ACLU tweeted, “Let this be a lesson to other states: If you criminalize protest, we will sue.”

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