Scheff Logging and Trucking in the north-central Minnesota community of Marcell is suing protesters who harassed employees and damaged equipment at its worksite near Cloquet. Attorney Doug Seaton says demonstrators thought Scheff was clearing ground for the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline, but that wasn’t the case. “People have their right to their opinions about pipelines and logging and treaty rights or whatever it is, but they don’t have a right to interfere in other people’s livelihoods and damage their property — and their persons. We’re afraid someone is gonna ultimately get hurt,” Seaton says.
Defendants in the lawsuit weren’t reachable for comment. Seaton says he also suspects some Minnesota foundations are funding training for activists that ends up being used in “eco-terrorist” activity.