Winona LaDuke has done something that most reasonable people would define as courage. Winona LaDuke put her life on the line to stop Enbridge from building a natural gas pipeline through Minnesota. As retribution, Enbridge and the Wadena County Sheriff’s unjustifiably arrested LaDuke for her peaceful protest. It has been further revealed that Enbridge “bank rolls” Northern Minnesota police forces.
Winona LaDuke is a brave and articulate civil rights leader of our era. LaDuke is not only an environmental activist protecting streams, rivers, and lakes but she’s also an incredible human being. LaDuke is a role model. LaDuke teaches us about heroism and moral strength particularly when it involves standing up to powerful interests like state and federal governments. At Protest Press, we commend and applaud LaDuke for her brilliance in bringing light to the combined corrupt acts involving Enbridge, the State of Minnesota, and President Biden’s cabinet.
During the interview cited below with Democracy Now, LaDuke states that Enbridge has helped finance the majority of “dysfunctional” Northern Minnesota police forces. Additionally, LaDuke states that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is the “most corrupt agency” in Minnesota. The Minnesota DNR would have to cross a very high bar before it surpassed the corruption of the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Indeed, the Minnesota Judicial Branch is by far the most corrupt. Democracy Now stated that Northern Minnesota police forces received a “budget boost” from Enbridge. In the next breath, LaDuke stated that Enbridge “bank rolls” Northern Minnesota police and “controls the police”. In fact, LaDuke defines this as “regulatory capture” where Enbridge “capture[s]” local police forces to do its bidding and arrest anyone opposed.
LaDuke’s allegation that Enbridge is financing Northern Minnesota police forces through a corrupt quid-pro-quo deal with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is not surprising. Walz has long been in favor of turning a blind eye to backchannel financial deals within Minnesota government when it involves siphoning extra funds from corporate sponsorships.
After being released from jail, LaDuke gave an interview with Democracy Now. That interview can be seen below.
