William Lawrence's 2013 arrest resurfaces in House race
William Lawrence, Michigan’s Democratic House nominee and Sunrise Movement co-founder, was arrested in 2013 at an Enbridge Line 5 protest. Fox News Digital reported charges of trespassing and resisting a police officer. The episode has resurfaced as he faces Rep. Tom Barrett in a pivotal race for Congress.
Key Takeaways
- William Lawrence was arrested in 2013 during a protest against the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline, according to documents cited by Fox News Digital.
- He and others were charged with trespassing and with resisting and obstructing a police officer after chaining themselves to machinery.
- His campaign says the conviction was expunged under Michigan law; Lawrence has called the protest righteous but not necessarily wise.
- He is challenging Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., in a closely watched race that could help decide control of the House.
- Republicans have tied him to the far left and past “Defund the Police” posts, which he now says he does not support.
What happened in William Lawrence’s 2013 arrest?
According to Fox News Digital, documents show Lawrence was among people arrested in 2013 at a demonstration against Enbridge Line 5, a 645-mile crude oil and natural gas pipeline running between Wisconsin and Ontario through Michigan.
He and others chained themselves to machinery. Defendants were charged with trespassing and resisting and obstructing a police officer. The documents said Lawrence and three others had to be cut from the equipment and were then arrested without incident.
Lawrence later addressed the episode on Instagram. In a video earlier this year, he said he “took a stand” against Enbridge: “Was it righteous? Absolutely. Was it wise? Perhaps not.” He added that the company was “back operating that afternoon” while he and collaborators “faced legal consequences for years,” and that he would not advise others to do what he did, while pledging to “fight for pure Michigan and our water.”
His campaign told Fox News Digital the conviction was expunged under Michigan state law.
Why does the arrest matter in the race for Congress?
Lawrence, co-founder of the progressive Sunrise Movement, is challenging Rep. Tom Barrett in one of the most closely watched House contests. With few seats still seen as up for grabs, a win there could prove decisive for whichever party controls Congress after November.
House Republicans’ campaign arm has used the case to paint him as too extreme for Mid-Michigan. NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon called him a “Socialist felon” who puts an “extreme climate agenda” ahead of Michigan priorities.
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How has William Lawrence responded on police and the DSA?
Lawrence previously posted “Defund the Police!” on X in May 2020 and later called to defund the Lansing, Michigan, police. In a weekend statement to Fox News Digital, he said: “I don’t support defunding the police. I follow the lead of first responders and gun violence prevention advocates I have met with here in the district, who support increased funding for youth programs, mental health resources, and community violence intervention, working in collaboration with law enforcement.”
Progressive groups backed him in the primary, where he defeated establishment-backed Matt Maasdam and Bridget Brink, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. He has since said he left the Democratic Socialists of America as the general election heats up, telling CNN he let his DSA membership lapse while stressing his platform is rooted in conversations across Michigan’s 7th District.