Greenpeace, one of the longest running climate change entities around, just lost a major trial. This one involved their participation in the months-long Standing Rock protests that turned into a violent and unsanitary circus. After weeks of testimony, the jury in Mandan, North Dakota took only two days to return their verdict.

A North Dakota jury on Wednesday found Greenpeace liable for millions of dollars in damages to a giant pipeline company in relation to protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline nearly a decade ago.

Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners sued Greenpeace for $300 million in 2019, accusing the environmental group of masterminding the protests, spreading misinformation and causing the company financial loss through damaged property and lost revenues.

As it turns out, the jury had an entirely different amount in mind and awarded Energy Transfer $667 million. 

At the heart of this was the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) and the fact that a very, and I mean very small portion of that pipeline would traverse through land that the Sioux and Standing Rock Indian Reservation recognize as culturally significant. Yes, the pipeline wasn’t actually going to be ON reservation land. 

And suddenly there were hordes of protestors throwing up tents, shanties, and some port-a-potties. One estimate had over 10,000 people milling around the area. And no, they weren’t peaceful by any means. Rocks, bottles, and other trash were thrown at law enforcement. People were physically attacked. 

And the camps themselves, spread over 1,000 acres, became an environmental disaster, even though the protestors (with virtue signaling celebrities among them), claimed this was ALL about clean water and protecting the environment. 

The fact is, Greenpeace was front and center in this mess. As the lawsuit from Energy Transfer claimed, Greenpeace was involved in the following ways. 

Orchestrated the protests to stop the pipeline’s construction
Paid outsiders to join the demonstrations
Supplied blockade materials
Organized or led protester training sessions
Made false statements about the project to impede its progress

The nine-member jury agreed, and found Greenpeace USA, Greenpeace International, and the Greenpeace Fund Inc liable to the tune of $667 million. 

https://twitter.com/ChrisMartzWX/status/1902509561015087428

Greenpeace, while crying that this will bankrupt them, which I’m TOTALLY ok with, is claiming this will stifle free speech and their ability to protest against Big Bad Oil. 

Isn’t it funny how they are claiming this is a free speech issue and they’d like to be able to protest however they want to get their point across? All while using and/or wearing products that are made with Big Oil? 

It wasn’t long after the DAPL protests at Standing Rock, that we started seeing other protests take on a more destructive bent. Since then we are seeing protests block traffic, protestors gluing themselves to roads and priceless paintings, desecrating monuments such as Stonehenge and others spray-painted, tent cities set up leaving trash and more in their wake, and now Teslas vandalized and dealerships set on fire. 

And nearly everyone on the left thinks this is totally fine because reasons. 

"Wow, you guys like domestic terror"

The Daily Show's audience applauds the domestic terror incidents against Tesla, disturbing even the liberal host… pic.twitter.com/WAyFPS0ZrK

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 20, 2025

Greenpeace is not only claiming this was a judgement against their right to protest however they want to, it’s a judgement against free speech in total. And if they lose the appeal (if they appeal), this judgement will bankrupt them. Except you don’t have a First Amendment right to destroy property, or defame others, nor commit arson or sabotage. 

One of the other issues with the case, is whom Greenpeace affiliated themselves with. The Red Warrior Society. 

Energy Transfer called Red Warrior Society an “informal organization of the most violent, most radical anti-DAPL activists in North Dakota and across the country.”

“Red Warrior Society, and its members at Red Warrior Camp, distinguished themselves from other activists by their express rejection of non-violent protest, and embrace of ‘militant direct action’ tactics,” reads Energy Transfer’s Second Amended Complaint.

Greenpeace also encouraged the banks backing the pipeline to withdraw from the project, circulating what Energy Transfer has called “defamatory statements” both online and in more personal interactions. Greenpeace said that the company had “deliberately desecrated documented burial grounds and other culturally important sites” and that the pipeline crossed tribal land.

Currently Greenpeace USA only has about $40 million on hand, but the judgement against them is for $404 million. Bankruptcy seems pretty certain now doesn’t it?

Energy, as in oil, coal, and gas fuel this country in a myriad of ways. Wind and solar…do not. This is not only a win for Energy Transfer, it is a win for American energy independence. It’s also a win for common sense. Greenpeace can protest all they want, PEACEFULLY. They did not, and these consequences are the result of their destructive actions. 

Feature Photo Credit: Greenpeace protestor with bullhorn via iStock, cropped and modified