Dakota Access Pipeline: Amy Goodman Faces Riot Charge after Filming Protest

Democracy Now! reporter Amy Goodman is facing charges of participating in a “riot” after filming Native American-led protests over the Dakota Access oil pipeline project.

The journalist said she would surrender to authorities on October 17 in response to the charge.

District Judge John Grinsteiner will decide whether there is sufficient evidence to support the riot charge.

Amy Goodman filmed the crackdown on protesters by authorities last month.

“I wasn’t trespassing, I wasn’t engaging in a riot, I was doing my job as a journalist by covering a violent attack on Native American protesters,” she said.

The charge relates to Amy Goodman’s Democracy Now! coverage of the protests against the Dakota Access pipeline on September 3.

Earlier this month actress Shailene Woodley was arrested at a construction site for broadcasting the North Dakota protests on Facebook.

The video by the Divergent star was viewed more than 2.4 million times on social media within hours of being posted.

The Dakota Access oil pipeline project, which will cross four states, has drawn huge protests.

Native Americans have halted its construction in North Dakota, saying it will desecrate sacred land and damage the environment.