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The 1,172-mile-long Dakota Access pipeline sparked massive protests led by members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The backlash was swift and brutal.




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When a giant oil company announced plans to build the 1,172-mile-long Dakota Access pipeline across watersheds and drinking water sources, it sparked massive protests led by members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

The backlash was swift and brutal. Security guards attacked pipeline opponents with dogs. Protesters faced charges carrying up to 110 years in prison.

As part of its response, pipeline owner Energy Transfer hired TigerSwan, a security firm that collaborated with police and employed military-style surveillance and counterinsurgency tactics against the Indigenous-led protest movement.

The Intercept has covered the protests from the beginning and broken countless stories on TigerSwan’s counterinsurgency campaign against #NoDAPL activists. Now we’re suing to gain access to thousands of pages of public records about TigerSwan’s activities, but Energy Transfer is working with a hugely expensive New York law firm to stop us.

The legal battle has dragged on for more than a year, and we’ve already spent more than $100,000 on litigation. The courts have so far sided with us, but the fight isn’t over. Now we’re turning to readers like you to help continue our reporting.

We won’t be intimidated from pursuing journalism that holds these powerful corporations accountable. Will you donate today and ensure we have the financial resources necessary to keep pursuing this story?

Thank you,
The Intercept team

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The Intercept is an award-winning nonprofit news organization dedicated to holding the powerful accountable through fearless, adversarial journalism. Our in-depth investigations and unflinching analysis focus on surveillance, war, corruption, the environment, technology, criminal justice, the media and more. Email is an important way for us to communicate with The Intercept’s readers, but if you’d like to stop hearing from us, click here to unsubscribe from all communications. Protecting freedom of the press has never been more important. Contribute now to support our independent journalism.

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