| That's right: WE WON! And I don't just mean Greenpeace — this is a victory for everyone on the planet who speaks truth to power and dares to advocate for a greener and more just world.  Deepa Padmanabha, Deputy General Counsel & Folabi Olagbaju, Democracy Campaign Director 7 years ago, after we exposed Canadian logging company Resolute's unsustainable forestry practices, they sued Greenpeace offices in an attempt to silence and bankrupt their critics.
Our response was simple: we will not be silenced. So for the last 7 years, we've fought their baseless lawsuit with everything we've got. We are beyond grateful that ultimately the Court defended our movement's right to call out corporations that prioritize profit over people.
Kathleen, 7 years is a long time, and $100 million is a LOT of money, so believe me when I say this: we wouldn't have been able to fight this existential battle without sustained support from Greenpeacers like you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your solidarity.
In addition to ensuring that we're not bullied into silence by corporations, your support has enabled us to continue taking on the toughest fights — from stopping plastic pollution to defending American democracy — without allowing this $100 million lawsuit to slow us down.
I'm proud and honored to continue this work with you. As we celebrate this resounding victory together, we must also prepare for what's next, because Greenpeace USA is fighting another extremely costly lawsuit right now which threatens our future.
In 2017, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline sued Greenpeace USA because we dared to uplift the Indigenous-led opposition movement at Standing Rock. These types of lawsuits are called Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), and they are meant to silence our movement at a time when our voices are needed most.
Over the past 10 years, the fossil fuel industry has used SLAPPs to target more than 150 people and organizations, with 50 such cases being filed in the last 5 years alone. These are direct attacks on free speech, and we urgently need federal and state protections against them.
Kathleen, I want to thank you for all the support you give us — it is because of you that we can do the work we do. Like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."
We can't allow corporate polluters to stand in the way of climate justice by manipulating our legal system and our democracy. With your help, we will continue defending our movement's right to uplift Indigenous voices, speak truth to power, and demand a livable planet. |
| In solidarity,
Ebony Twilley Martin
Executive Director, Greenpeace USA
PS: We're celebrating this win on social media and getting ready for the fight ahead — help us share and celebrate this victory on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! |
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