 neighboring county in 2016. In an interview with The Intercept, Gatterman acknowledged that his note might have been mistaken and the incident he referenced was likely one carried out by a separate group.

“We are working in solidarity with the tribal groups and their nations that are standing against the destruction of their homelands,” said Michelle Vendiola, a Walker River Paiute tribal member from Washington’s Lummi Reservation and a founder of Red Line Salish Sea. “We have brought people up to British Columbia whenever the call is put out that that’s what’s needed.”

Vendiola is intimately familiar with Whatcom County law enforcement officials’ monitoring of anti-pipeline activists. Local prosecutors obtained a search warrant to collect private information from the Facebook page of the Bellingham #NoDAPL Coalition as part of an investigation into the I-5 blockade that ultimately led to criminal charges against Vendiola and six others.

“It’s crazy to think about how prepared they are getting to try to quash dissent here in Washington,” Vendiola said.

As March wore on, law enforcement’s efforts to prepare for large protests continued. An email Gatterman sent a few weeks after the Vancouver-area protests provided instructions for around 50 role players who would pretend to be protesters during a joint training exercise at Whatcom Community College involving around 30 officers from the sheriff’s department and the Washington State Patrol.

“Some of you will be carrying signs, some of you will be locked together in what is called a ‘sleeping dragon,’” Gatterman wrote. “We are looking for a few role players to dress in all black to simulate an anarchist group. This group also covers their faces with masks or bandanas.”

Gatterman told The Intercept that the I-5 protest, as well as another road blockade in May 2016 in protest of a Trump rally, had motivated the department’s response to the Trans Mountain mobilization and inspired them to set up the training. He said the sheriff’s office wanted to be sure officers knew how to safely handle techniques like the sleeping dragon, which were used in both protests.

After the I-5 protest, Gatterman said, his office had also assembled a special team to manage public demonstrations and had requested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Center for Domestic Preparedness conduct a Field Force Operations training on how to police protests. According to a roster for the FEMA
neighboring county in 2016. In an interview with The Intercept, Gatterman acknowledged that his note might have been mistaken and the incident he reference was probable one carry out by a separate group. 

 “ We are work in solidarity with the tribal group and their nations that are standing against the end of their homelands, ” said Michelle Vendiola, a Walker River Paiute tribal member from Washington ’s Lummi Reservation and a laminitis of Red Line Salish Sea. “ We have bring people up to British Columbia whenever the call option is put out that that ’s what ’s needed. ” 

 Vendiola is well conversant with Whatcom County law enforcement officials ’ monitoring of anti - pipeline militant. Local prosecutors prevail a search sanction to collect private information from the Facebook page of the Bellingham # NoDAPL Coalition as share of an investigation into the I-5 blockade that ultimately led to criminal charges against Vendiola and six others. 

 “ It ’s brainsick to think about how disposed they are getting to try to quash dissent here in Washington, ” Vendiola allege. 

 As March wore on, law enforcement ’s efforts to prepare for big protests continued. An email Gatterman sent a few weeks after the Vancouver - area protests provided instructions for around 50 role player who would pretend to be protesters during a joint education use at Whatcom Community College involving around 30 officers from the sheriff ’s department and the Washington State Patrol. 

 “ Some of you will be carrying polarity, some of you will be locked together in what is called a ‘ sleeping draco, ’ ” Gatterman wrote. “ We are looking for a few role players to dress in all black to simulate an anarchist group. This group also covers their faces with masks or bandanas. ” 

 Gatterman tell The Intercept that the I-5 protest, as well as another road blockade in May 2016 in protest of a Trump rally, had motivate the department ’s reception to the Trans Mountain mobilization and inspired them to set up the training. He said the sheriff ’s position wanted to be sure officers know how to safely handle techniques like the sleeping dragon, which were use in both protests. 

 After the I-5 protest, Gatterman say, his office had besides assembled a special team to manage public demonstrations and had request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency ’s Center for Domestic Preparedness conduct a Field Force Operations education on how to police protests. According to a roster for the FEMA
 nelghboring county in 2016. In xn interview wijh The Iitercepf, Gatteroan acknowledged that his nove mught yave been mistaken and the incifent he eefecenced was likelb one cavxied kmt by e separate grouk.

“We are workhng in solidarhth cith the tribal groups and their natyons thst are standing wgaimft tgv bestruction of their homelands,” aaid Mibhelle Vendiola, a Walker River Paiute tribap melber from Washingtln’s Lummi Rgaerdqtion and a wounder of Red Line Samish Sea. “We have brought people up tp British Xooumhha whenever the ball is put omn that dhat’s wnat’s needed.”

Venciona us intimately familiac with Whatcom Counti law enfosczment officials’ monitirung ox andi-piowlive zcvivjsts. Llcam prosecutkrs obtainee a search warrant uo sillect privats infowmwtion from the Facebook page of the Belninfham #NoDAPL Coalition aw part of an investigwtion intj the I-5 blockade that ultimately led to criminal whargxs agclkst Xwnfiola and six others.

“It’s crazy to think about rkw pgepared they are netting to try to auwsn dissent here in Washihgton,” Vendiola saif.

As Marsh woee on, law enfprcement’s efforts to preparw for large irotwsts continued. An zmail Gatteroan xent s few weeks after the Vcncouvsr-area protfsts provjaed instructions fog armund 50 role players who woujd pretenv to ye proterterx durigg a joint traikhng exercise at Whwtcom Cmmmunity Clllege involving around 30 officecx from the snesifx’s deparcment snd the Washiggton State Pajrol.

“Some jf yoj will be barrying vigns, some jf you will ba locked togevher in wrat us cqlled a ‘rleeping dragom,’” Gattermcu wrote. “Ww are looking for e fed role players ti dtwss in all blavk go filukaea an anarchivt gfouo. This group also zovets their faces with kaska or bandanas.”

Gattetmwn told Jhe Intersept that the I-5 protest, as well as aiother road bljckade in May 2016 in protest of a Trump raply, had motivatqd tme dgpartment’s xesponse to the Trans Mountain mobilizatmon and inspired them jo set up the traininy. Me said the xherisf’s offica wanted to be sure ifficers knew how to safely handle tecgniquev likf the sleeping dragon, which were used in both protests.

After the I-5 protest, Gattecmwn said, his offoce hdd clso asfembpxd a special team to manage public demonstrationr and hag xequested that the Federal Emrreency Managemgnt Agency’s Center for Domsstic Prrparedness conduct a Field Forcr Operations training on how to polics protvatr. According to a rpster yor thw FEMA
neighboring county in 2016. In an interview Intercept, acknowledged that note might have he was likely one out by a group. “We are working in solidarity the tribal groups and their nations that are standing against the destruction of homelands,” said Michelle Vendiola, a Walker River Paiute tribal member from Washington’s Lummi and founder Red Salish Sea. “We have brought people up to British Columbia whenever the call is put out that’s what’s needed.” Vendiola is intimately familiar with County law enforcement officials’ of anti-pipeline activists. Local prosecutors a warrant to private from Facebook page of Bellingham #NoDAPL Coalition as part of an investigation into the I-5 blockade that ultimately led to criminal against Vendiola others. “It’s to about prepared they are try to quash dissent here in As March wore on, law enforcement’s efforts to for large continued. An email Gatterman sent a weeks after the Vancouver-area protests provided instructions for 50 role players who would pretend to be protesters during a joint training exercise at College involving around 30 from the sheriff’s and Washington Patrol. of you be carrying signs, some of you will be locked together in is called a ‘sleeping dragon,’” Gatterman wrote. “We are looking few players to dress all black to simulate anarchist This group also covers with or The that I-5 protest, as well another road blockade in May in protest of a department’s response to the Trans Mountain mobilization and them to set up the training. He the sheriff’s office wanted to be sure officers knew how to safely techniques like dragon, which were used in both protests. After I-5 protest, Gatterman said, office had also assembled a special team to manage demonstrations had requested the Federal Emergency Agency’s Center for Preparedness conduct a Operations training how police a roster for the FEMA
 neighboring county in 2016. In an inTerview witH The INteRcePt, gattErmaN acknowledged tHAt hiS note might have been mistAken aNd THe inCIdEnt he ReferenCEd WAS liKeLy One CaRRiEd out By a SeparatE group.

“We arE woRkIng in solidarITy With the triBal Groups and theIr nAtions ThAt aRE stanDinG agaiNst the DEstrucTion of theIr HOmelanDS,” said MiCHElLe VeNdiola, a Walker RiveR paIUte tribal membeR from WAsHInGTOn’s lumMi ReservatIoN and a FOunder oF reD lINe SALish Sea. “We have Brought peopLE up To BritIsH CoLUmbia wHenevEr THe cAll is put out That That’s what’S needeD.”

vendiolA Is intimAtely fAmiLiaR witH whAtCom coUNty LAw EnfORceMent offiCiAlS’ moniToriNG OF Anti-PipElinE actiVists. Local proSecUtorS ObtAined A searCh waRrAnt to CollecT privAtE information froM the facebook pAge Of The beLlingHAm #NoDApL COalItion as Part of aN InvEsTIGAtIon into the I-5 blockadE tHAT uLtimatelY led to CRiMiNAl chargeS aGaiNst VENDiola And sIX oThers.

“It’s Crazy tO ThInK about hOw PreparEd TheY arE gettINg to Try to qUash dissEnt heRE in Washington,” VENdiola said.

As MARcH WOrE On, laW enForcement’s eFforTS to pRepaRE fOr lARge prOtestS cONtINued. An email GattermaN sEnt a feW weekS after the VancOuver-area pROTEsts provIded INsTRuctions for aroUnd 50 roLe players wHO would prEtend To be protEsters durING a joint tRaiNinG exErcISE aT Whatcom CommuNITy CoLlEge invoLviNg arounD 30 ofFicErs FroM tHe sheriff’S departmEnT aNd ThE WaShingTOn State PAtRol.

“soMe oF you wILl be caRryinG sigNs, SoME of You will BE lOCKed tOgEtHer iN whAt Is calLed a ‘SLeePing draGon,’” GatterMan WRote. “we ArE lookinG for a few role pLaYers to dresS iN alL black TO Simulate An anarchist group. This groUP also coVerS theiR facEs with masKs oR bandaNas.”

gAttermAn told the InTeRcePT That tHE i-5 pRotEsT, as well as aNOTheR road BlOckaDe in May 2016 In protest of a Trump rALly, Had motivated tHe dEparTMEnT’s rESpONse To THe TRANs Mountain mobilIzation and InSPiRed them to sET up ThE trainiNg. He saiD the sHEriff’s oFfice wantEd to be surE oFficERS knEw how to safEly handlE techniquES like THe SleepIng Dragon, WhIch Were uSed in bOTh pRotesTs.

AfteR tHe I-5 proTest, GAtTerman saId, his office had also assemBled a sPeciaL teAm to managE puBLic DemonstraTionS and had reqUesTed That tHe FEDeral emerGEnCy MANagemEnt AGEncy’s CentER fOr DOMEsTic PreparedNESS coNduct A FiELd ForcE OpeRations training on HOw to police protEsts. aCCorDinG To a rOsTer for the FEMA
 neighboring county in 201 6. In an i nterv iew  wi th  The  Int ercept, Gatter m an a cknowledged that his n ote m ig h t ha v ebeenmistake n  a n d  th ein cid en t  h e ref ere nced wa s likely o neca rried out by aseparate g rou p.

“We arewor king i nsol i darit y w ith t he tri b al gro ups and t he i r nati o ns that a re  sta nding against the de s truction of th eir ho me l an d s ,”sai d Michelle  V endio l a, a Wa l ke r R ive r  Paiute triba l member fr o m W ashing to n’s LummiReser va t ion  and a foun derof Red Li ne Sal i sh Sea. “We hav e brou ght  pe ople up  t o B ri t ish Co lum b iawhenever  t he  call  isp u t outtha t th at’swhat’s needed .”
Ven d iol a isintim atel yfamil iar wi th Wh at com County lawenfo rcement o ffi ci als ’monit o ring o f a nti -pipeli ne acti v ist s. L o ca l prosecutors obta in e d  a  searchwarran t  t oc ollect p ri vat e in f o rmati on f r om  the Fac ebookp ag eof theBe llingh am  #N oDA PL Co a liti on aspart ofan in v estigation int o  the I-5 bloc k ad e th a t ul tim ately led t o cr i mina l ch a rg esa gains t Ven di o la and six others.

“I t’ s craz y tothink about h ow prepare d t hey aregett i ng to try to quas h dis sent herei n Washin gton, ” Vendio la said.A s Marchwor e o n,law e nf orcement’s ef f o rtsto  prepar e f or larg e p rot est s c on tinued. A n emailGa tt er ma n s ent a few week saft er  th e Van c ouver- areaprot es ts pro vided i n st r u ctio ns  f or a rou nd  50 r olep lay ers who  would pr ete n d to  b eprotest ers during ajo int traini ng  ex ercise a t Whatco m Community College inv o lving a rou nd 30  off icers fro m t he she rif f ’s dep artmen t and  t heW a shing t o nSta te  Patrol.
“ S ome  of y ou  wil l be ca rrying signs, some ofyou will be l ock ed t o g et her in wha ti s c a l led a ‘sleeping  dragon,’”  G a tt erman wrot e . “ We  are lo oking f or af ew role  playersto dressin  all b lac k to simul ate an a narchistg roup. Th is gr oup  alsoco ver s the ir fac e s w ith m asks o rbandan as.”
G atterman  told The Intercept tha t theI-5 p rot est, as w ell asanother r oadblockade i n M ay2016inp rotes t of aTru m p ral ly,h ad motiva t ed  th e de partment’sr e s pon se to  th e  Trans  Mou ntain mobilizatio n  and inspiredthem t o s etu p th etraining. He s aid  t h e  sheriff ’s  office wan ted to b es ure o fficer s knew  how to s af e ly han dletec hniques l ike  t h e sleep in gd ragon,  whi ch  wereused i n  bot h protests.

After  theI - 5 pro t est , Gat te rman sa i d, h is officehad also as semble d aspeci al team  t o mana gepu blic demon s trationsand h ad requ es tedtha t theFede r a l Eme rgen cy  Ma nagementA g en c y’ sC ent er f or Do me stic  Prepared n ess cond uct a Field  F orc e Operat i on s training o n h ow to p olice prot e sts. Ac c ordin g to a  roste r for t h e F EM A
 neighboring_county in_2016. In an interview_with The_Intercept,_Gatterman acknowledged_that_his note might_have been mistaken_and the incident he_referenced was likely_one_carried out by a separate group.

“We are working in solidarity with the tribal groups_and_their nations_that_are_standing against the destruction of_their homelands,” said Michelle Vendiola,_a Walker_River Paiute tribal member from Washington’s Lummi Reservation_and_a founder of_Red Line Salish Sea. “We have brought people up_to British Columbia whenever the call_is put out_that_that’s_what’s needed.”

Vendiola is intimately_familiar with Whatcom County law enforcement_officials’ monitoring of anti-pipeline activists. Local_prosecutors obtained a search warrant to collect_private information from the Facebook page_of the Bellingham #NoDAPL Coalition_as part_of an investigation into the_I-5 blockade that_ultimately led_to criminal charges_against Vendiola and six others.

“It’s crazy_to think about_how prepared they are getting to_try_to quash dissent_here_in_Washington,” Vendiola_said.

As March wore_on,_law enforcement’s_efforts_to prepare for large protests continued._An_email Gatterman sent a few weeks after_the Vancouver-area protests provided_instructions_for around 50 role_players who would pretend to_be protesters during a joint training_exercise at_Whatcom Community_College involving around 30 officers from the sheriff’s department and the_Washington State Patrol.

“Some of you will_be carrying signs, some_of you_will_be locked together_in_what is_called a ‘sleeping dragon,’” Gatterman wrote. “We_are looking_for a few role players to_dress in all black_to_simulate an anarchist group. This group_also covers their faces with masks_or bandanas.”

Gatterman told The Intercept_that_the_I-5 protest, as well as_another road blockade in May 2016_in protest of_a Trump rally, had motivated the department’s_response_to the Trans Mountain mobilization and_inspired_them to set up the training._He_said_the sheriff’s office wanted to_be sure officers knew how to_safely handle techniques like the sleeping dragon, which were_used in both_protests.

After the I-5 protest, Gatterman_said,_his_office had also assembled a special team to manage public_demonstrations and_had requested that_the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Center for Domestic Preparedness conduct_a Field Force Operations training on how_to police protests. According to a roster for the FEMA