Undercover Sheriffs in Oklahoma Infiltrated Tar Sands Resistance Camp to Thwart Protest

Democracy Now! U.S. and World News Headlines for Monday, August 12

A new report says sheriffs in Oklahoma spied on a training camp for activists opposed to the enviromental impacts of tar sands oil. In March, the spying allowed authorities to thwart a planned blockade of TransCanada’s oil reserves in Cushing, Oklahoma, pulling over some participants even before they reached the protest site. Documents obtained by Earth Island Journal show at least two law enforcement officers infiltrated the Great Plains Tar Sands Resistance camp and wrote a detailed summary about the people there. According to a report published today, the infiltration is part of a wider pattern of surveillance by government officials who routinely share information about activists with TransCanada — the firm behind the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry Canadian tar sands oil to Texas if approved by the Obama administration.

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