Pipeline Protesters Appeal to North Dakota Supreme Court

The North Dakota State Supreme Court is being asked to overturn the convictions of the first protesters sent to jail over the Dakota Access oil pipeline demonstrations.

The appeals were filed by Mary Redway, 64 of Providence, Rhode Island and Alexander Simon, 27 of Lamy, New Mexico. They were convicted Oct. 19 of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and Redway did four days in jail while Simon served 12 days behind bars.

As the Bismarck Journal reported recently, one other case has been heard by the Supreme Court but no ruling has been made. It was the case of Kevin Decker, 46, of St. Joseph, Missouri who was arrested in August of 2016. He was convicted by a jury of misdemeanor disorderly conduct for shoving an officer. Decker got a deferred sentence and $1,5858 in fines and fees.

 

Oklahomans and members of Native American tribes were among the thousands who carried out protests against the pipeline.