On 19 October 2017, Mary Redway (65) was sentenced to six days in jail on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and Alexander Simon (27) was sentenced to 18 days in jail on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and physical obstruction of a government function related to their opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline. The sentencing occurred almost one year after they were arrested at Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. Alexander served 13 days of his 18-day sentence for locking arms with activists.

Both activists were arrested on 22 October 2016 along with 140 others, most of whom had their charges dismissed. Mary and Alexander were the first Water Protectors to receive a jail sentence and were tried in court together.

Mary is a retired film editor and environmental biologist from Rhode Island and Alexander is a teacher living in New Mexico.