Shailene Woodley calls on Robert Redford to snub Sundance sponsors over pipeline links
Actress Shailene Woodley has called on Robert Redford to cut ties with one of his Sundance Film Festival's leading sponsors because company bosses are helping to fund the Dakota Access Pipeline.
The Divergent star was arrested while protesting the pipeline in North Dakota last year (16) and she is still awaiting trial on trespassing and engaging in a riot charges, but she's determined to fight on, and she has taken her activism to Sundance.
The 25-year-old was part of a Standing Rock protest during the
festival on Monday (23Jan17) and now she's calling on festival
founder Redford to show his support for the Native Americans still
fighting to keep their sacred land from developers.
Shailene has asked the movie veteran to cut relations with bosses
at Sundance sponsor Chase Bank, who she reveals is funding the
pipeline.
"There is a hypocrisy in talking about indigenous cultures but not
doing anything, as a non-native ally, to stand with them," she
said.
On Tuesday (24Jan17), newly-elected U.S. President Donald Trump
announced he had signed orders to move forward with the
construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines.
Meanwhile, Woodley's pipeline protest case has been delayed for a
second time. She has pleaded not guilty to criminal trespass and
engaging in a riot - both misdemeanors that carry a maximum
punishment of a month in jail.
She was due in court on 25 January (17), but the hearing was
delayed until 22 February (17), and the trial has now been pushed
back again, to 31 March (17), because of a scheduling conflict.
The actress was among 27 activists arrested as part of the Standing
Rock Sioux tribe's efforts to halt construction of the $3.8 billion
pipeline. The tribe leaders claim the pipeline plans threatened
drinking water and cultural sites.
In December (16), the protesters scored a victory when the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers announced the decision to re-route the
pipeline. Shailene took to Facebook Live to celebrate at the
site.
"What's up?! So this is an exciting video because for months every
time we've done a Facebook Live surrounding Standing Rock it's
generally asking the Army Corps to do a particular something that
tonight they decided to finally do," a smiling Shailene told
fans.
"This is a huge moment. I'm in Standing Rock right now with a bunch
of magical human beings who have devoted all of their time and life
force and energy over the last few months to protect the water...
and it happened. It's a good day. It's not the end, it's the
beginning."