Cases / Killings and repression of defenders · United States · 2018–2025

Bayou Bridge pipeline arrests (Louisiana)

Nature's voice · report

No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.

Did nature suffer? Not measured.

Not on record

The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.

What the record lacks: 1 not measured · 2 disputed See the gaps

Sixteen activists and one journalist were arrested in August 2018, eight days after Louisiana's critical-infrastructure trespass law took effect. A court challenge to the law failed and the law remains in force.

17People arrested on 9 Aug 2018 at the Bayou Bridge pipeline
16 activists and 1 journalist.

Status As of June 2025: the Fifth Circuit affirmed the ruling against the challenge to Act 692; the law remains in force.

What?

Activists and a journalist were arrested under a new felony trespass law at a pipeline site; a later challenge to the law failed. Climate Case Chart

Where?

Bayou Bridge pipeline, Louisiana.

When?

Arrests 9 August 2018; appeal ruling 20 June 2025. Climate Case Chart

Who?

Gained

None on record

Lost

16 activists and 1 journalist — Arrested on 9 August 2018; charges were not pursued.

Harmed

None on record

Why?

The arrests were made under Act 692 of 2018, which made trespass on "critical infrastructure" a felony.

How?

Arrests eight days after the law took effect; the district attorney later dropped the charges.

6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

Louisiana's Act 692 of 2018 made trespass on "critical infrastructure" a felony. On 9 August 2018, eight days after the law took effect, 16 activists and 1 journalist were arrested at the Bayou Bridge pipeline.

The charges were not pursued; the district attorney dropped them around 2021. The record notes that sources conflict on whether formal charges were ever filed.

In White Hat v. Murrill, a challenge to the law, the district court ruled against the plaintiffs in 2022. The Fifth Circuit affirmed on 20 June 2025, with one judge dissenting on vagueness. The law remains in force.

2018Act 692 takes effect; 9 Aug: 16 activists and 1 journalist arrested at the Bayou Bridge pipeline
2021District attorney drops the charges (around this year)
2022District court rules against the plaintiffs in White Hat v. Murrill
202520 Jun: Fifth Circuit affirms, one judge dissenting on vagueness

What was said

Claims, in the words of those who made them.

Where accounts differ

Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.

Was Louisiana's critical-infrastructure trespass law unconstitutionally vague?

Courts

Fifth Circuit

Affirmed the district court's ruling against the plaintiffs on 20 June 2025; one judge dissented on vagueness.

Climate Case Chart

How it looked

What was shown, beside what was recorded.

Shown

Recorded

16 activists and 1 journalist were arrested on 9 August 2018, eight days after Act 692 took effect.
The Fifth Circuit affirmed the ruling against the challengers of the law on 20 June 2025; the law remains in force.
Climate Case Chart

In court and with insurers

Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

Lawsuits and rulings

2025-06-20Defendant won
White Hat v. Murrill (challenge to Act 692 of 2018)
US district court, then Fifth Circuit · Civil · Plaintiffs challenging the law → Louisiana officials
The district court ruled against the plaintiffs in 2022. The Fifth Circuit affirmed on 20 June 2025, with one judge dissenting on vagueness. Climate Case Chart