RantCrush Top 5: October 17, 2016

People across the U.S., including resident Native American protesters, have been up in arms over the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline since August. Despite the lack of mainstream coverage of the issue, dissenters have received tons of support from third parties and celebrities who have risked it all for the cause. Last week, Shailene Woodley livestreamed her own arrest at the pipeline on social media. Another, more alarming incident brings up very serious concerns about freedom of the press in the U.S. Journalist Amy Goodman is currently facing charges for participating in a riot last month where she filmed authorities cracking down on protesters for Democracy Now!

With Amy Goodman reporting at Standing Rock Reservation #NoDAPL #standwithamy @democracynow pic.twitter.com/70Fa3cdBXu

— Reed Brody (@ReedBrody) October 15, 2016

Goodman told BBC: “I wasn’t trespassing, I wasn’t engaging in a riot, I was doing my job as a journalist by covering a violent attack on Native American protesters.”

When a journalist can face prison for covering an event, the fascists have won. https://t.co/ucl1VycD5Y

— Anonymous (@AnonyOps) October 16, 2016

Goodman said she would surrender today. The Dakota Access Pipeline is set to span across four states, transporting oil and potentially damaging sacred land.

Rant Crush

RantCrush collects the top trending topics in the law and policy world each day just for you.