Shailene Woodley Arrested for Criminal Trespassing

Renowned actress Shailene Woodley has been arrested during a protest in North Dakota against a huge oil pipeline project that will cross four states. The 1,172-mile pipeline would stretch from the oil-rich Bakken Formation, a vast underground deposit where Montana and North Dakota meet Canada, southeast into South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois. The Divergent celebrity was arrested at a construction site as she was broadcasting the protest which involved about 200 people on Facebook.

Image: CNN

The actress was busted Monday morning for trespassing during what she called a “peaceful protest” in Sioux County, North Dakota. About 100 protesters were on a construction site for the controversial pipeline project before cops moved in and put handcuffs on Woodley.

Image: CNN

Police say she was one of the 27 people arrested on charges of criminal trespass and engaging in a riot. As Woodley was led away with her hands cuffed, she said she had been singled out from hundreds of other protesters "because I'm well known, because I have 40,000 people watching".

Protestors say the project will damage the environment as well as impact archaeologically important Native American tribal lands. Thousands of people from more than 200 Native American tribes have supported the Standing Rock Sioux’s efforts to safeguard their lands, waters and sacred sites during construction, said the tribe.

Image: TMZ

Woodley posted a US$500 (RM2,085) bond and was charged with criminal trespass and engaging in a riot, according to CNN affiliate KFYR. Her first court date is scheduled for October 24.

Woodley filmed her arrest on Facebook Live and posted it to her official page. The video has been viewed more than 3 million times (and counting). Her publicist said Woodley "appreciates the outpouring of support, not only for her, but more importantly, for the continued fight against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline". Environmental protesters believe the transporting of up to 570,000 barrels of crude oil a day will endanger local waterways. Native American tribes believe the pipeline would also damage historic sites.

Image: BBC

In the video, a deputy is heard telling Woodley, "You are going to be placed under arrest for criminal trespassing." Woodley then asks the deputy, "Why am I being arrested but no one else down there is?"

You could say Woodley is divergent and fighting against establishments supporting the pipeline.