What is Line 3?

Line 3 is a proposed pipeline expansion to bring nearly a million barrels of tar sands per day from Alberta, Canada to Superior, Wisconsin. It was proposed in 2014 by Enbridge, a Canadian pipeline company responsible for the largest inland oil spill in the US. Enbridge seeks to build a new pipeline corridor through untouched wetlands and the treaty territory of Anishinaabe peoples, which includes the Mississippi River headwaters to the shore of Lake Superior. Enbridge is currently building the proposed Line 3 tar sands pipeline. If built, Line 3 would destroy the sacred wild rice beds that the Anishinaabe people depend on for their food, culture, and way of life.

From MN350

Line 3 would contribute as much damage to our climate as 50 new coal-fired power plants, and it would endanger more than 800 wetlands and 200 waterways.

The Red Lake Nation, the White Earth Band of Ojibwe, and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Minnesota’s Department of Commerce, environmental organizations, and 13 youth intervenors are all currently challenging the legality of Line 3 in court. 

Meanwhile, construction continues in Anishinaabe territory and grassroots resistance to the pipeline becomes more powerful by the day. More than 200,000 people have signed a petition demanding that President Biden take Executive Action to stop Line 3. On Feb 2nd, Rep. Ilhan Omar wrote to President Biden demanding the same. Four days earlier, more than 600 people took to the streets of St. Paul, demanding an end to the pipeline. 

Water Protectors blockade Line 3 construction ahead of full-scale assault on Minnesota waterways. Photo Courtesy of GINIW Collective

As of today, more than 130 people have been arrested for taking direct action to stop the pipeline construction: chaining themselves to pieces of pipe, sitting in trees in the path of construction, locking themselves by their necks to excavators and placing pianos in the way of construction. Each of these actions brings more of the world’s attention to what is happening in northern Minnesota.    

This resistance will only grow more fervent. As best-selling novelist and member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Louise Erdrich wrote in the New York Times: “[Line 3] is a tar sands climate bomb. . .The state’s environmental impact assessment of the project found the pipeline’s carbon output could be 193 million tons per year. That’s the equivalent of 50 coal-fired power plants or 38 million vehicles on our roads.”

You can learn more here! 

How can you take action to help stop line 3?  

Head to the frontlines 

Last week, thousands joined the frontlines to take direct action against Line 3, but the effort continues!

Over 200 people who attended the Treaty People’s Gathering are occupying the Mississippi headwaters. They are camped in the exact spot where Enbridge plans to begin drilling for Line 3 by July 1st.

Led by the RISE Coalition, this occupation will continue — and the call has been made for allies and accomplices to join them in exercising their treaty rights.If you are able to join the camp at the headwaters of the Mississippi please contact Rise Coalition at RiseCoalition@protonmail.com.

Can’t make it to Minnesota? Take action from where you are: 
  1. Buy a Defund Line 3 T-shirt, your purchase will support efforts to stop line 3! 
  2. Organize a bank protest in your area at Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi Bank, TD Bank etc 
  3. Take action at https://stopthemoneypipeline.com/line3/ and email and call the banks responsible for funding Enbridge the company responsible for building Line 3 
  4. Share the factsheets and Line 3 info with your community.
  5. Sign the petition to tell the Biden administration to stop line 3 here: https://www.stopline3.org/take-action 

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