Left aims to defeat another pipeline, but Native American business leaders defend construction

Gordon Construction is among the Native American-owned companies that is contracting with the Canadian energy firm Enbridge on the construction of Line 3, a pipeline carrying oil from Canada into the United States. But climate activists – emboldened by stopping the Keystone XL Pipeline – have made Line 3 their new target.

Earlier this month, hundreds of activist descended on the construction site and many of them vandalized contractor equipment, broke into construction trailers, damaged environmental safeguards intended to control erosion and attempted to trap workers while occupying the site, according to Enbridge.  FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2017 file photo, workers make sure that each section of the Enbridge replacement Line 3 that is joined passes muster in Superior, Wisconsin.  (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP) (Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune via AP) FILE - In this June 7, 2021, file photo, activists are walked through an Enbridge Line 3 pump station after being arrested near Park Rapids, Minnesota. Members of the Rise Coalition, an Indigenous-led environmental organization, and allies erected a prayer camp on June 7 at the Enbridge construction site along the Mississippi River near Solway. They and other Line 3 opponents had marched to the area with hundreds of others protesting the pipeline before pitching their camp at the end of a wooden boardwalk leading to the site. (Evan Frost/Minnesota Public Radio via AP, File) (Evan Frost/Minnesota Public Radio via AP, File) FILE - In this June 7, 2021, file photo, a Department of Homeland Security helicopter uses its rotor wash to stir up dirt as activists take materials to build barricades at an occupied Enbridge Line 3 pump station near Park Rapids, Minnesota. Members of the Rise Coalition, an Indigenous-led environmental organization, and allies erected a prayer camp on June 7 at the Enbridge construction site along the Mississippi River near Solway. They and other Line 3 opponents had marched to the area with hundreds of others protesting the pipeline before pitching their camp at the end of a wooden boardwalk leading to the site. (Evan Frost/Minnesota Public Radio via AP, File) (Evan Frost/Minnesota Public Radio via AP, File) "I’m a contractor for excavation and all of my equipment on site was vandalized," Matt Gordon told Fox News. "For the most part, a majority of the people are for the pipeline. Everybody enjoys gasoline and plastic products. The opponents are shielding themselves with Native Americans. Most of the protesters were White. Line 3 has brought back millions of dollars to the reservations."