Lawsuit Seeks Records Of US Govt's Spying On Keystone Pipeline Protesters - Advocacy Group

Lawsuit Seeks Records of US Govt's Spying on Keystone Pipeline Protesters - Advocacy Group

A newly filed lawsuit is demanding that the US federal government release records related to its efforts to spy on activists protesting against the controversial Keystone Pipeline project, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said in a statement on Tuesday.

NEW YORK (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 05th September, 2018) A newly filed lawsuit is demanding that the US Federal government release records related to its efforts to spy on activists protesting against the controversial Keystone Pipeline project, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The ACLU and the ACLU of Montana filed a federal lawsuit today in Montana against the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies seeking further documentation of law enforcement plans to surveil and police Keystone XL protests," the statement said.

The ACLU said documents that it previously obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests provided evidence that the federal government intends to respond to Keystone protests with excessive force and counter-terrorism tactics.

The documents also provide evidence of potential "undue government scrutiny" of people planning to attend Keystone XL pipeline protests, including environmental activists and indigenous communities, the ACLU said.

The records reportedly reveal the collaboration between state and federal law enforcement officials on "preventive measures" against the protests. In addition, the documents suggest that other records exist on the government's plans in regards to the measures against the protesters.

The lawsuit, according to the ACLU, seeks to uncover methods of surveillance and other engagement strategies the government plans in regards to people who plan to oppose the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

The 1,179-mile Keystone XL project, which was blocked by former President Barack Obama and then approved by current President Donald Trump, is the last section of the entire Keystone system.

Various environmental groups and Native American tribes have protested against the project, which traverses sacred tribal lands and could pollute local waters.