Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

March 26, 2024

Thacker Pass Protectors File First-Ever 'Biodiversity Necessity Defense' in Nevada Court





Thacker Pass Protectors File First-Ever 'Biodiversity Necessity Defense' in Nevada Court

While pursuing a 'Climate Necessity Defense,' and making allegations that mining company has violated their rights, their attorney said, 'They’re not criminals; they’re heroes.'

By Protect Thacker Pass, Censored News, March 26, 2024

WINNEMUCCA, Nevada — In a first for the American legal system, the lawyers for six people sued by Lithium Nevada Corporation for protesting the Thacker Pass mine are arguing a ‘biodiversity necessity defense.’

The necessity defense is a legal argument used to justify breaking the law when a greater harm is being prevented; for example, breaking a car window to save an infant locked inside on a stifling hot day, or breaking down a door to help someone screaming inside a locked home. In these cases, trespassing is justified to save a life.
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March 24, 2024

Hualapai Run to Save Sacred Spring -- Navajo Nation Agrees to Dig into Hualapai Sacred Spring for Lithium


Hualapai Run to Save Sacred Spring -- Navajo Nation Agrees to Dig into Hualapai Sacred Spring for Lithium

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, March 24, 2024

Hualapai runners and walkers trekked more than 200 miles over six days from western Arizona to the Phoenix to save their Sacred Spring from open-pit lithium mining. Hualapai runners were joined at the Arizona Capitol with support from O'odham and Dine' on Tuesday.

The Navajo Nation's transitional energy company agreed to destroy the Sacred Spring of Hualapai and lead the project to dig into the earth for lithium, in another fake green act.

Morton County Sheriff's Letter to President-Elect Trump Accused Water Protectors of Bogus Crimes


Oceti Sakowin Camp was raided and cleared of Feb. 23, 2017, after Trump signed an executive order for approvals of Dakota Access Pipeline on Jan. 24, 2017. Photo NPR.


Morton County Sheriff's Letter to President-Elect Trump Accused Water Protectors of Bogus Crimes 

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, March 24, 2024

BISMARCK, North Dakota -- The Morton County Sheriff's Department sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump which accused Standing Rock water protectors of crimes that there was no evidence of -- crimes water protectors were never charged with. The letter urges Trump to stop the protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

After taking office, President Trump signed an executive order to expedite approval of the Dakota Access Pipeline on Jan. 24, 2017. The Oceti Sakowin Camp of Standing Rock water protectors camps was cleared by law enforcement on Feb. 23, 2017.

In the letter to President-elect Trump after the election, Morton County accused water protectors of crimes that there was no evidence of, and crimes that no water protectors were charged with. The letter is revealed in Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier's second deposition, in the current federal case, North Dakota v. USA.