"The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of South Dakota has sued the state over a series of new laws critics say violate the First Amendment rights of anti-pipeline activists.

The bills, signed last Wednesday by Gov. Kristi Noem (R), allow the state to sue people or organizations for “riot boosting,” or encouraging protests where violence eventually takes place, even if the defendant does not participate in any rioting.

Noem explicitly tied the bill to the forthcoming construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, calling it “a legislative solution to ensure the safety and efficiency of pipeline construction in South Dakota.” On Friday, President Trump signed a presidential permit to jump-start construction of the pipeline and circumvent previous court orders halting its development."

Zack Budryk reports for The Hill March 31, 2019. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"More States Crack Down on Pipeline Protesters, Including Supporters Who Aren’t Even on the Scene" (InsideClimate News) [3]