Direct action against pipeline 3, St. Paul, MN, 2019; photo by Lorie Shaull.

As corporations continue to aggressively extract finite resources to uphold a society teetering on the brink of collapse, we must examine and strengthen the roles we play in our communities and in the climate movement. For many, this means participating in direct action. From tree-sitters to blockades, we are familiar with the powerful ways communities are thwarting further desecration of Earth.

On this episode of For The Wild, we speak to Lauren Regan to discuss grassroots activism, corporate corruption, and our right to dissent. Paying special attention to the longstanding connections between private companies, the oil and gas industry and an evergrowing increase in corporate-friendly punitive legislation, we ask Lauren about what the current increase of grey intelligence means for environmental activism? What agenda might be furthered when private security companies who once oversaw pipeline construction begin intervening in disaster recovery?

Lauren Regan, Executive Director, oversees the Civil Liberties Defense Center as its founder and senior staff attorney. She has extensive federal and state litigation experience in both civil rights and activist defense cases, as well as expertise in necessity and other constitutional defenses. Lauren has a juris doctorate in law, bachelor degrees in political science and psychology, and is a national expert in the defense of political activists, particularly those engaged in climate justice, environmental/animal rights, Indigenous, and anti-capitalist movements and their intersections. 

Lauren and the CLDC provide more than 50 Know Your Rights trainings each year to activists, immigrants, Indigenous communities, rural landowners resisting pipelines, and many other at-risk groups. Lauren is also an Oregon State Bar leadership fellow, a volunteer Teen Court judge, and has been given dozens of public interest attorney awards, and has been interviewed in dozens of publications and documentary films over her 22 years of activist lawyering.

In this highly informative interview, Ayana and Lauren begin by discussing the necessity defense in context to the climate crisis. Other topics discussed include “critical energy infrastructure” felonies, how the oil and gas industry subverts democracy, digital surveillance and the importance of community solidarity in grassroots activism. We invite you to listen to this episode and learn about what sort of communication and strategy should be prioritized in terms of anti-oppression. Lauren leaves us with the powerful reminder that cohesive and creative grassroots activism can and will overcome profit-driven corruption.

♫ Music by Jonathan Yonts, County Line Bandits, and Dimples

Take Action

“The CLDC uses education to proactively challenge attacks on our civil liberties and rights. Armed with knowledge, activists are able to make informed choices and, thus, better protect their rights.” You can learn more about your rights, digital security and explore different legal primers on infrastructure and more by visiting the Civil Liberties Defense Center.

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