Minnesota officials monitored waste‑incinerator activists, emails reveal
The Guardian reported that local officials in Minneapolis quietly surveilled environmental‑justice activists who are pressing for the closure of a waste…
The Guardian reported that local officials in Minneapolis quietly surveilled environmental‑justice activists who are pressing for the closure of a waste incinerator that pollutes nearby low‑income neighborhoods. Emails obtained by the newspaper show officials tried to grow close to activist groups and collected information that was later shared with the incinerator’s industry partners.
According to the emails, a county employee who is also an environmental‑justice activist was sent to gather intelligence on the campaign. The material was used to help defeat state‑level environmental legislation that the incinerator’s leadership opposed and to stay one step ahead of activist protests.
In a separate incident, a recording captured a county employee presenting himself as an ally while attempting to discover the identity of a whistleblower. The Guardian’s reporting suggests a pattern of covert tactics aimed at undermining the activists’ efforts.
Why it matters
The revelations show how government resources may be used to suppress community‑led environmental campaigns, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.
Key details
- Location
- United Kingdom · Europe
- Reported by
- The Guardian
- First reported
- Key names
- Newly, Minneapolis
- Section
- Environment
Sources
This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:
Read the full story at The GuardianSpotted an error? Request a correction · How this summary was produced
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