On Sept. 24, 2017, we at Sonoma Solidarity with Standing Rock are celebrating our one-year anniversary. But is it over for Standing Rock now that the camps are gone? The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) still threatens current and future generations at Standing Rock, and the 17 million people downstream of where the DAPL crosses the Missouri River. The Dakota Access Pipeline and the entire fossil fuel industry threaten life on our planet by accelerating climate change. The camps are gone, but the water protectors continue to inspire Standing Rock-style fossil fuel resistance the world over.

Our group Sonoma Solidarity with Standing Rock has come a long way, from that first meeting of about 30 people concerned about Standing Rock a year ago, to supporting protests against and divestment from DAPL investors Citibank, Wells Fargo, Chase and SPO Partners in Santa Rosa, Marin and San Francisco, culminating in a vigil and silent march ending in front of Citibank on Dec. 4, 2016 in solidarity with the 2000 veterans who converged at Standing Rock to act as a human shield for the water protectors. 500-600 people joined our solidarity march on short notice. We have raised money for the legal defense of water protectors and for Lakota People’s Law Project. We’ve been interviewed for radio and newspapers, we’ve written articles and given presentations.

Native American leaders and organizations continue to urge divestment from fossil fuels, and we continue to call people to action. In March, we started a divestment team which works on both individual and institutional divestment. Our divestment team has joined forces with Public Bank Santa Rosa to urge the City of Santa Rosa to start a public bank (www.sonomasolidarity.org), which will reap tremendous local benefits, including funding the transition to clean energy locally.

Lakota People’s Law Project is calling people to action to support a petition to drop charges against the water protectors who have inspired us all. Now that the water protectors have inspired us to action all over the world, we cannot abandon them to the tender mercies of the State of North Dakota’s courts. (www.lakotalaw.org) We have to transition away from deadly fossil fuels to a clean energy future. We have work to do, and there are some great opportunities ahead of us.

From 350 Bay Area:  Call or send an email to your Assembly member today! By Friday! 

California tends to lead the way. If California can get this bill passed, other states will follow.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: 350 Bay Area <info@350bayarea.org>
Date: Wed, Sep 13, 2017 at 3:10 PM
Subject: A quick action you can take today to put CA on the clean energy path

Friday is the end of the CA legislative session. There is just one critical action you can take to put California on the path to 100% clean energy because we just got the great news that we won on the other one, for now. 

1. Take Action Now! Tell your Assembly member you support SB 100—and 100% Clean Electricity for California. Ask him/her to vote YES!  http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov
   
   
2. California's investor-owned utilities made a sneaky last minute move to choke community choice energy by inserting harmful language into AB 726 & AB 813 and the other policies in there were just too rushed.  Breaking: these bills are being pushed to next year now, so we did it!

More info here!

From Tara Houska's update on the legal battle of Standing Rock and Line 3: "As of July, a total of 499 cases remain open regarding the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota, according to reports."

Sign the Petition!

Once again, please sign and circulate the petition from Lakota People's Law Project:  "The movement you helped create at Standing Rock isn’t over. We’ve now entered a new phase that may be the most important yet. You can help defend the protectors by calling on North Dakota to DROP THE CHARGES against all those arrested and to HOLD ETP AND TIGERSWAN ACCOUNTABLE for their illegal, violent, and racist actions."

Forward this petition far and wide! And share it on Facebook!

1) September 3, 2017 - A message from Dallas Goldtooth, Executive Director of Indigenous Environmental Network: 

"Today marks one year since the #DayofTheDogs at the #NoDAPL frontline.

"One year since DAPL decided to plow thru identified burial markers and water protectors crossed the fence to stop them."

Click here to read the entire message on Facebook.

2) Remember to sign Lakota Law's petition to drop charges against water protectors and circulate the petition far and wide. The petition will be sent to the lawyer who has the power to dismiss all cases against water protectors in North Dakota. Don't let these courageous water protectors be punished for protecting their families and generations to come!! Sign and circulate this petition!

3) #DefundDAPL by divesting from Wall Street banks. And support a public bank in Santa Rosa. Public banks are the ONLY way for our city governments to fully divest from Wall Street banks! Check out our public banking group!

4) Looking one year back:
Here is a link to Democracy Now's video report about that fateful day.

Mni Wiconi!