Dallas, TX
Dallas-based Energy Transfer’s $300 million trial against Greenpeace begins today
After nearly eight years, Dallas-based pipeline company Energy Transfer LP’s $300 million trial against Greenpeace USA is set to begin Monday in North Dakota.
Energy Transfer is accusing the longtime nonprofit and other activists of defamation and damages over claims related to protests surrounding the construction of the nearly 1,200-mile Dakota Access Pipeline in 2016.
Before the trial, Mi Barrio 214, a Pleasant Grove art studio, became the gathering place last week for local and national activists, tribal members, artists and community leaders to create climate justice banners and signs against Energy Transfer.
On Saturday, a peaceful march took place on the Ronald Kirk pedestrian bridge with wings representing hummingbirds and banners that read “We will not be silenced” and “End big oil’s attack on free speech,” with about 35 people.
The protests in 2016 and 2017, which erupted because pipeline construction endangered sacred lands and threatened the area’s water supply, were organized by Standing Rock and other Sioux tribes and supported by more than 300 sovereign tribal nations. They inspired an international solidarity movement after Energy Transfer’s private security unleashed attack dogs and pepper spray on nonviolent protesters.
Joseph White Eyes, who grew up in Eagle Butte on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and participated in the 2016 protests, came to Dallas for the march to send a message to Energy Transfer. White Eyes said Greenpeace was not the organizer of the protests; it was an indigenous-led movement.
“To take that narrative away for that Indigenous people that were able to stand up and do this type of resistance like we’ve done, for the past 100 years, is a complete slap in our face,” White Eyes told The Dallas Morning News. “Because then again, it goes to show that people of color are on the sidelines, and it’s these big white organizations that are in charge.”
Energy Transfer, led by North Texas billionaire Kelcy Warren, said Greenpeace and others incited protests, spread misinformation, and vandalized the project, which, according to the lawsuit, cost Energy Transfer millions of dollars in delays.
The company stated via email, “Our lawsuit against Greenpeace is about them not following the law. It is not about free speech as they are trying to claim. We support the rights of all Americans to express their opinions and lawfully protest. However, when it is not done in accordance with our laws, we have a legal system to deal with that. Beyond that, we will let our case speak for itself.”
More than 400 organizations worldwide signed an open letter denouncing the lawsuit as meritless and an attempt to rewrite history by claiming that Greenpeace orchestrated what was an Indigenous-led movement.
Greenpeace has denounced the lawsuit as a “Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation” case. SLAPP suits are civil litigation that individuals and entities bring to dissuade their critics from continuing to produce negative publicity. According to Cornell Law School, by definition, SLAPP suits do not have any true legal claims against the critics.
The Obama administration halted construction in 2016, but the project resumed following an executive order in the early days President Donald Trump’s first term. The pipeline was completed soon after and began operating commercially in June 2017.
Warren and his wife are major political donors. Politico’s E&E News reported the pair have donated upward of $30 million since 2010, primarily to Republican candidates. Warren donated about $5 million to Trump’s 2024 campaign.
Rogelio Meixueiro, a North Texas activist and Greenpeace organizer, said Dallas residents need to know the connection between this lawsuit and their city.
“A lot of the big oil industry deals take place in Dallas, and this is where the headquarters of Energy Transfer is, and Warren lives here,” Meixueiro said. “In the community, he is seen as a great philanthropist and someone who supports many causes, but he has also put the land and water of some communities at risk.”
Warren paid $10 million to name the 5.2-acre park Klyde Warren Park in honor of his son, The News reported.
Energy Transfer is represented by Gibson Dunn & Crutcher – the firm that represented Chevron against Steven Donziger, an environmental advocate sued by the firm after helping Amazonian communities in Ecuador win a landmark pollution case. Davis Wright Tremaine, a firm known for representing First Amendment cases, represents Greenpeace.
The five-week jury trial in Mandan, North Dakota, will not be streamed live.
Phoenix Amaterasu was one of the about 30 community members who were at the Mi Barrio 214 studio to connect with others who were there to support the cause.
Amaterasu traveled from Austin and others from D.C., Chicago, California, Seattle and North Dakota.
“They can try to silence people and nature, but we will persevere no matter what,” said Amaterasu, spraying green and blue paint on the cardboard hummingbird wings. “We have to protect our nature. That is our duty. We are done with the big oil industry.”
The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Garland Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abby Policastro and Marissa Aulbaugh prosecuted the case.
“This verdict should send a clear message to drug dealers that we will dismantle any effort to peddle deadly fentanyl in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their dedicated collaboration in taking thousands of fentanyl pills off the streets of Dallas.”
If the Dallas Cowboys want to get over the hump and back into the playoffs in 2026, they’ve got to see a massive improvement in the defense.
Owner Jerry Jones was brutally honest with just how much the Cowboys were held back by their defense in 2025, and the numbers very clearly spell that out.
How does a Cowboys team that ranked top 10 in passing, rushing and points on offense still miss the playoffs?
Well, Dallas also ranked 30th in total yards allowed, 32nd in passing yards, 23rd against the run and 32nd in points against, that’s how. That putrid showing rightly cost Matt Eberflus his job, which set the stage for Dallas to hire Christian Parker.
It also set the stage for a total overhaul of the defense, with Dallas making many additions to that side of the ball, including at corner, where the Cowboys were bad on the boundary and in slot last season.
Fow now, we’re more focused on the boundary competition, as the Cowboys appear set to roll with Caleb Downs in the slot.
Cowboys’ CB competition is crucial for 2026
The Cowboys won’t have much hope for a playoff appearance if the cornerback play doesn’t improve. Of the 10 teams that landed in the bottom 10 in passing yards allowed last season, only two of them made the postseason.
Of course, the pass-rush played a part in that, and while Dallas has made multiple additions to that group this offseason, there really aren’t any guarantees with Rashan Gary, Malachi Lawrence or Donovan Ezeiruaku.
If that trio fails to improve a pass-rush that was tied for the seventh-fewest sacks in the NFL in 2025, the cornerbacks become even more crucial.
DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel did not play well in 2025, and while the former appears safe for now when it comes to a starting job on the outside, his leash could be short if he struggles again.
Revel, on the other hand, isn’t locked into a starting job on the boundary and is competing with Durant and Caelen Carson. It’s also worth keeping an eye on who finishes in second in that battle because that player could replace Bland if he struggles or gets hurt again.
There is hope Revel can bounce back now that he’s another year removed from the torn ACL he suffered in his final year in college and can enjoy a full offseason, but we’ll have to see it first before we can believe it.
“It’s very beneficial,” Revel said of having a normal offseason. “Just because I can clean up a lot of things, a lot of errors I didn’t see last year, or I did see last year, that I could clean up this year.”
“My knee is 100%, so now it’s time to focus on situational ball and I’ve got to see what I need to fix or get better at,” Revel added.
When training camp kicks off next month, we’re going to be locked into watching the battle at cornerback because it could very well make or break Dallas’ entire 2026 campaign.
Follow
The NFL offseason is moving along as the Dallas Cowboys recently wrapped up their mandatory minicamp. Their next big event takes place at the end of July when they meet in Oxnard for training camp.
Coming off a 7-9-1 campaign, the Cowboys have several areas they would like to improve, and while defense has been the focal point, there will be plenty to watch on offense as well with players fighting for their spot on the depth chart.
That means there will be no shortage of storylines to follow, including keeping an eye on these three players who enter camp with their stock trending in the wrong direction.
Jonathan Mingo, WR
It has been a roller coaster for Jonathan Mingo ever since being traded to Dallas ahead of the 2024 deadline. He made no impact during his first eight games, recording just five receptions. He seemed ready to rebound in 2025, however, as he took advantage of his first full offseason with the Cowboys.
Mingo was one of the stars of training camp and put himself in the WR3 conversation. A knee injury put an end to that run and he wound up playing in just six games and had one catch. Now, Mingo heads into camp with very little chance of making the 53-man roster.
Joe Milton III, QB
At this time last year, Joe Milton III was one of the hottest names in Frisco. The former New England Patriots quarterback was expected to give them a more explosive QB2 behind Dak Prescott after Cooper Rush left in free agency. LeSean McCoy went overboard by saying Dak Prescott’s job was in danger, but there was still a lot of understandable hype.
Now as he enters his second season with the franchise, Milton is going to be battling for the backup spot with Sam Howell, who was signed this offseason. Milton still has a rocket for an arm and unbelievable athleticism for a 6-foot-5, 246-pounder, but he could be in danger of losing his roster spot if he can’t find more consistency.
Malik Hooker, S
Dallas added three safeties this offseason, signing Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke in free agency and selecting Caleb Downs in the first round of the NFL draft. Thompson has yet to fully practice due to an injury but Downs has been turning heads and Locke has taken advantage of the extra snaps.
That’s not ideal for Malik Hooker, who has also been sidelined with an injury. Unlike Thompson, Hooker isn’t in the first year of his deal, so his missed time is more detrimental. He also doesn’t have experience with the coaching staff the way Locke does. That means he’s entering camp without much momentum at all, and could be in danger of losing his spot.
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