Send John Laurits to Standing Rock!
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My name is John Laurits & I am a citizen-journalist, activist, artist, & math-enthusiast. The purpose of this fundraiser is to send me to Standing Rock Reservation to report on the ongoing protests against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. My intention is twofold -- both to truthfully report on what is happening there and to stand in solidarity with those who are protecting our water from the greed of the fossil fuel industry.
[EDIT: Here's a link to the article I just published, called "The Land Beneath the Pipeline: Standing Rock & Barack Obama's Chance to #HonorTheTreaties."]
WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
My intention to travel to Standing Rock grew from my repeated observations that the media in the United States is either not covering this issue truthfully or not covering it at all -- ultimately, when the police mistreatment of our water-protectors intensified, I felt I could no longer remain an observer as my native brothers, sisters, & others stand against such brutal opponents. As a someone who has reported from the frontlines of mass-demonstrations before, I believe I am prepared to offer myself in service to this cause, by taking photos, filming, & writing articles in an effort to raise public awareness & to help hold our leaders accountable for the actions of police at the protest camps.
WHY I'M ASKING FOR HELP
As a poor & independent writer, I do not have access to the funds that I would need to accomplish this task alone. That is why I am asking for my community & for society-at-large to provide the resources necessary -- food, equipment, & travel-expenses -- to reach North Dakota, to report, to interview, & to bear witness, and finally, to return.
In exchange, I can promise to try my best to film, photograph, & write truthfully about all that I see there. In sharp contrast to what the major media corporations are doing, I can promise to report truthfully & with integrity, with the purpose of informing the people of my country & of the world.
MY PAST SUCCESS WITH
CROWDFUNDED REPORTING
As proof that I can follow through on these promises, I point to the record of my livestreams, photos, & articles from the demonstrations in Philadelphia, at the Democratic National Convention, none of which would have been possible without the funding that I had recieved from more than one hundred small donors. If enough of you want to send me to report on these demonstrations, then I know that we can accomplish it together.
Thank you for your time & please consider contributing to this fundraiser.
In solidarity,
John Laurits
[EDIT: Here's a link to the article I just published, called "The Land Beneath the Pipeline: Standing Rock & Barack Obama's Chance to #HonorTheTreaties."]
WHY I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
My intention to travel to Standing Rock grew from my repeated observations that the media in the United States is either not covering this issue truthfully or not covering it at all -- ultimately, when the police mistreatment of our water-protectors intensified, I felt I could no longer remain an observer as my native brothers, sisters, & others stand against such brutal opponents. As a someone who has reported from the frontlines of mass-demonstrations before, I believe I am prepared to offer myself in service to this cause, by taking photos, filming, & writing articles in an effort to raise public awareness & to help hold our leaders accountable for the actions of police at the protest camps.
WHY I'M ASKING FOR HELP
As a poor & independent writer, I do not have access to the funds that I would need to accomplish this task alone. That is why I am asking for my community & for society-at-large to provide the resources necessary -- food, equipment, & travel-expenses -- to reach North Dakota, to report, to interview, & to bear witness, and finally, to return.
In exchange, I can promise to try my best to film, photograph, & write truthfully about all that I see there. In sharp contrast to what the major media corporations are doing, I can promise to report truthfully & with integrity, with the purpose of informing the people of my country & of the world.
MY PAST SUCCESS WITH
CROWDFUNDED REPORTING
As proof that I can follow through on these promises, I point to the record of my livestreams, photos, & articles from the demonstrations in Philadelphia, at the Democratic National Convention, none of which would have been possible without the funding that I had recieved from more than one hundred small donors. If enough of you want to send me to report on these demonstrations, then I know that we can accomplish it together.
Thank you for your time & please consider contributing to this fundraiser.
In solidarity,
John Laurits
Organizer and beneficiary
John Matthew Laurits
Organizer
McMinnville, OR
Jessica Nichole Johnson
Beneficiary
