North Dakota: Water Protector Opposing Pipeline Resists Grand Jury

As reported by Democracy Now! news headlines:

In North Dakota, a water protector opposing the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline says he’s willing to go to jail on contempt charges rather than give testimony to a federal grand jury. On Wednesday, a federal judge threw out a motion by Steve Martinez to quash a subpoena ordering him to testify about injuries to Sophia Wilansky, a water protector whose arm was severely wounded during a police crackdown on November 20. Martinez has been ordered to testify on February 1. He says he believes the grand jury is a fishing expedition aimed at forcing him to list the names of other activists opposing the Dakota Access pipeline.

Steve Martinez: "February 1st, I am looking at contempt, because I’m not going to cooperate with this. And I just think it’s just a way for them to bully me into giving names and helping them out. I don’t want to lose my freedom at all, but it’s a small price to pay."