Greenpeace has been dealt a crushing blow—a North Dakota jury has ordered the organization to pay $667 million after finding it guilty of civil conspiracy, defamation, and trespass during the 2016 Dakota Access Pipeline protests. This landmark ruling exposes how radical left-wing groups hijack grassroots movements, escalating peaceful demonstrations into chaos. Greenpeace Faces Unprecedented Legal Reckoning A jury sided with Energy Transfer, the pipeline company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), in its lawsuit against Greenpeace and other activist groups. The court determined that Greenpeace played a key role in escalating the protests, crossing the line from advocacy into illegal activity. Evidence presented at trial revealed Greenpeace’s involvement in training and funding activists who engaged in direct-action tactics during the protests. Internal documents showed the organization provided resources to train 3,000 activists, leading to escalated confrontations, property damage, and illegal trespassing. A Jury finds NGO Greenpeace at fault for protest damages, awards Dakota Access Pipeline developer more than $660 million pic.twitter.com/V6EAgw10HO — Harrison Krank (@HarrisonKrank) March 20, 2025 The Anatomy of Hijacked Protests The Dakota Access Pipeline protests have become a case study in how legitimate causes can be co-opted by outside agitators. Court documents revealed that Greenpeace not only funded but also strategically coordinated protest escalation, turning a local environmental dispute into a national security concern. This “hybrid protest” model has been used by activist groups for decades—exploiting legitimate grievances to push radical agendas. The result? Once protests spiral into chaos, the public turns against the movement, effectively undermining the original cause. What Goes Around Comes Around … Greenpeace must pay at least $660 million in damages for Dakota pipeline protests, says a jury – The Guardian https://t.co/DPsHwxYjZP — JudgeJoeBrown (@JudgeJoeBrownTV) March 20, 2025 Broader Implications for Activist Organizations The $667 million judgment could be a game-changer for how activist organizations operate in the future. Greenpeace USA’s executive director Sushma Raman admitted the verdict could cripple the organization, stating: “This is the end of a chapter, but not the end of our fight. Energy Transfer knows we don’t have $660 million. They want our silence, not our money.” This ruling sets a legal precedent, making it easier to hold activist groups accountable when their actions cross the line into illegal coordination. The financial backers of these organizations—progressive nonprofits, NGOs, and dark-money groups—may now rethink their involvement for fear of future lawsuits. Legal experts warn that the case could influence future rulings against organizations that provide financial or logistical support to illegal protests. Greenpeace has already filed an appeal, but this lawsuit sends a warning shot to radical groups attempting to disrupt industries through coordinated lawbreaking. Sources: Far-left organizations are soiling legitimate protests with outside agitators looking for a real fight Our Voices Won’t Be Silenced, Our Movements Won’t be Repressed: Solidarity with Our Comrades – NDN COLLECTIVE