Actress Pleads Not Guilty in Pipeline Dispute

On Wednesday, actress Shailene Woodley pleaded not guilty to allegations coming from her eminent arrest with 27 other people, court documents show. They were apprehended while protesting the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline.

According to court documents, Woodley’s attorney entered the pleas to misdemeanor counts of engaging in a riot and trespassing. However, the 24-year-old star was not present for the brief hearing in Morton County District Court in North Dakota.

Woodley was seen on camera being taken into custody. She had been broadcasting the October 10 protest on Facebook Live. The rally was held at a Dakota Access pipeline construction area about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the town of St. Anthony.

The actress said she had been quietly heading back to her car when officers grabbed her by her jacket. They also told her not to continue.

Police said Woodley was among the last people arrested at the time after she left private property.

Aside from acting, Woodley is known for her environmental activism. She has beforehand joined members of North Dakota’s Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to protest against the $3.7 billion project.

The 1,100-mile (1771-km) pipeline would be the first to bring Bakken shale from North Dakota straight to refineries on the US Gulf Coast. A consortium of companies led by Energy Transfer Partner LP is building the pipeline.

The construction of the pipeline, called Dakota Access, has been hampered by demonstration causing delays to the planned start of operations in the fourth quarter of this year.

The tribe believes that the pipeline would damage historic and culturally significant sites. Moreover, it would leave its land exposed to contamination from oil spills.

Pipeline cheaper and safer alternative to rail and road transport

On the other hand, supporters say it would provide a more secure and cost-effective way to move Bakken oil shale to the US Gulf than by rail or road.

Woodley co-starred in the recently released film “Snowden”. She portrayed Lindsay Mills, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden’s girlfriend.

Edward Snowden revealed information concerning the US administration’s widespread surveillance programs. Hence, he fled the United states in 2013 and was allowed asylum in Russia.

 

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