Once again, Jasper County is in the news — and not for a good reason. Our county was once again been home to a second arson attack that caused more than $1 million worth of damage to American-made construction equipment for the Dakota Access Pipeline. These actions are shameful, wrong, and frankly, humiliating for the good people of Iowa.
It is one thing to protest the pipeline, but it’s another to cause physical damage in the name of those efforts. Those protesting this pipeline should recognize that these illegal actions harm Iowa workers (such as myself), their neighbors and prevent them from doing jobs that support Iowa families and their communities. These type of actions could cause ripple effects for companies who want to invest in future infrastructure projects and equipment to build things like roads, bridges or even municipal utility lines.
The individuals who committed these criminal acts should be held responsible by the authorities. This work is legally permitted and is taking place in a safe and responsible manner. The people who are opposed to this project should respect the rule of law. Iowa workers have a right to safety, and should not be threatened by acts of arson.
Roger Leine
Newton