Hundreds of protesters, led by Native American groups, have taken over a construction site in Minnesota in an effort to stop the construction of a pipeline running from Canada to Wisconsin, the Washington Post reports.
Joined by celebrities like Jane Fonda and Catherine Keener, the protesters have strapped themselves to bulldozers and other equipment to stop the progress of Line 3, a pipeline being built by the Canadian company Enbridge. The project replaces an existing 34-inch pipeline build in the 1960s from Edmonton, Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin, with a 36-inch line.
Protesters fear that the construction and pipeline will contaminate water tables and tribal lands in the 337 miles it will travel through Minnesota. Another Enbridge pipeline, the 70-year-old Line 5, was shut down by Democratic Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in November over concerns that it was leading to pollution in the Great Lakes.
Enbridge, for its part, have said that the protests have had no impact on construction and that the project is progressing as scheduled.
“We recognize people have strong feelings about the energy we all use, and they have the right to express their opinions legally and peacefully,” Enbridge said in a statement. “We hoped all parties would come to accept the outcome of the thorough, science-based review and multiple approvals of the project.”