Baton Rouge DA Will Not Press "Terrorizing" Charges For Leaving A Box Of Plastic Pellets On Porch

[hatrack]

Baton Rouge prosecutors announced Friday they would not pursue criminal charges against two New Orleans environmental activists arrested on terrorizing counts after leaving a box of plastic pellets on the doorstep of a chemical industry lobbyist.

The decision ends a controversial case that raised questions about whether the charges were appropriate since the stunt was relatively harmless, part of a Baton Rouge event in December 2019 aimed at raising awareness about plastic pollution. The plastic pellets inside the box, called nurdles, were collected from Texas bays near a plastic manufacturing facility owned by Formosa Plastics.

Anne Rolfes and Kate McIntosh, environmental activists with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, were booked into the Baton Rouge jail in June after police notified them about the pending charges. Rolfes was booked with terrorizing, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. McIntosh was booked with principal to terrorizing. Each was released on $5,000 bond.

The Bucket Brigade has expressed staunch opposition to a proposed chemical plant set to be constructed in St. James Parish by a Formosa affiliate. Several environmental groups have sued to block critical permits that would allow construction to begin. The litigation is ongoing. About a year after the alleged offense, the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office announced a decision: The women will not be prosecuted.

EDIT

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/environment/article_c56e7908-4158-11eb-83d2-a71d2a69951f.html

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. IMHO, charging these women with "terrorism" is like charging

teens with terrorism for TPing trees in a neighbors yard.

[Mickju]

2. That they were ever charged at all is beyond absurd.

What these environmentalists did should be applauded.

[Karadeniz]

3. Terrorism? Jeez!