Native Americans who protested Dakota Access get handed the longest prison sentences

[turbinetree]

Source: Think Progress

Three protesters accept plea deals to avoid likely unfair trials in North Dakota.

MARK HAND JUL 12, 2018, 4:35 PM

Among the hundreds of people arrested in North Dakota for protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, Native Americans faced the most serious charges. More than two years after the protests began, federal judges are now handing down lengthy prison sentences to the protesters.

One of the Standing Rock activists, Red Fawn Fallis, was sentenced Wednesday for her role in a shooting incident during the protests. As part of a plea deal, the 39-year-old will serve the longest prison term of any Dakota Access protester: four years and nine months in federal prison for one count of civil disorder and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.

The legal owner of the gun Red Fawn is alleged to have fired was a paid FBI informant named Heath Harmon, a 46-year-old member of the Fort Berthold Reservation in western North Dakota, The Intercept reported last December.

As Red Fawn was being tackled by police officers, who were attempting to put her in handcuffs, three gunshots allegedly went off alongside her. Deputies allegedly reached for her left hand and grabbed a gun away from her, according to The Intercept. No one was injured in the shooting incident.



Read more: https://thinkprogress.org/native-americans-who-protested-dakota-access-get-handed-the-longest-prison-sentences-e7510ca5f2d7/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Hey, where's THEIR pardon ? ? ?

[Efilroft Sul]

3. Pardons are for rednecks, not Red Fawn.

[dalton99a]

8. Exactly.

[joshcryer]

14. Did they commit arson?

[calguy]

2. But the Bundy thugs got off scott free.

American justice just ain't the same as it used to be.

[bluestarone]

6. EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

total bullshit!!!!

[mpcamb]

17. Perfect contrast!

[ffr]

4. Message here: don't carry a firearm around Federal Agents.

Unless you're background is that you're a white male from a southern state. It that case, it's your right to open-carry.

Have a nice day.

[RandomAccess]

7. SHE DIDN'T

She was framed, big time. If there even was a firearm, it was planted. Most of the people there said they saw NO firearm. Further, NO ONE was allowed at Standing Rock or any of the protests with firearms -- strictly enforced.

The whole protest was an extremely benevolent, highly spiritual undertaking. Many people who went there said it changed their lives in amazing ways.

But there were NO firearms.

[ffr]

15. That's awful then. I didn't read the background, just the last paragraph.

I hope she sues and gets millions for her wrongful punishment.

Avenatti!

[JI7]

5. So fucked up

[bluedigger]

9. Same as it ever was...

[EarthFirst]

10. ...and how many felons were in possession of firearms in Nevada

When Amon Bundy hosted his friends over for a protest which involved sniper positions to be established on federal highways?

Or the pardons recently issued after the Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge where one BLM protester was shot dead while resisting arrest...

How many of these guys were known felons in possession of firearms?

[Judi Lynn]

11. Where the hell is Karma? Shouldn't it be here, by now? I have never seen its arrival, yet.

There is nothing civilized about what brought out the protesters in the first place, and nothing forgivable about their treatment, in service of big business, by the U.S. government.

Broken treaties, unbearable vicious brutality, hellish race hatred promoted and deliberately encouraged against the innocents who got in the way of greedy, soulless, stupid monsters.

In time, they will have to face their consciences, no matter how hard they try to hide from them.

Thank you for the information. It's necessary to hope for justice, soon.

[turbinetree]

13. Your welcome...................

[guss]

12. Protesters Vs Lobbyist

Protesters Feel with their heart that something is wrong
will disrupt their lives to right the wrongs in society.
Lobbyist pay State officials to throw protesters in jail.
and pay big money to make laws to keep Their Money bosses happy
Thanks frickin supreme court for making money free speech ... shits.
Citizens United (what a sham)
They even write laws and give it to lawmakers to pass.
we have no representation any more, unless you can buy a congressman off.

[malthaussen]

16. Red Fawn Fallis will do more time than any Trumpster...

... because being framed for firearms possession while Red is much worse than treason against the United States of America.

-- Mal

[Bayard]

18. This is bullshit

From the article:

"The judge in Red Fawn’s case had forbidden her defense team from mentioning treaty rights or other issues related to her arrest at anti-pipeline protests near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation border. She ended up accepting the plea deal under the assumption that she would not receive a fair trial due to prosecutors allegedly withholding evidence."

Doesn't say whether she even had a decent attorney.