UPDATE 10/28/16: The standoff has spilled into Friday morning, with 141 Native Americans and other protestors being arrested as of this point.
The situation is North Dakota erupted today as water protectors protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline clashed with police.
Over one hundred police in riot gear arrived at the camps today to start removing the water protectors and take down the camp and barricades they had set up. Police assembled in a line and demanded that the protesters, who were standing in the path of the pipeline’s construction, move. Anyone that refused was arrested.
“Go to the main camp, you will not be arrested if you go south to the main camp” –cop at barricade on 1806 #DAPL #NoDAPL
— wes enzinna (@wesenzinna) October 27, 2016
Authorities also removed the roadblocks that protesters had set up, saying that the water protectors are “trespassing” on private land. They have brought in reinforcements from seven other states to help remove people.
Meanwhile, most of mainstream media is either completely ignoring the situation, or in the case of CNN, running articles headlined “Pipeline protesters set fires.”
Happening now: #NoDAPL water protectors blockading highway 1806 with cars, tires & fire amid fears 100+ police about to raid resistance camp pic.twitter.com/GGwD8IRAK5
— Democracy Now! (@democracynow) October 27, 2016
Police Viciously Attacked Peaceful Protesters at the Dakota Access Pipeline https://t.co/bK2etlow0i #NoDAPL #StandingRock
— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) October 27, 2016
BREAKING: 100+ police in riot gear appear poised to raid #NoDAPL resistance camp directly in path of Dakota Access pipeline construction pic.twitter.com/63oKMeD5X4
— Democracy Now! (@democracynow) October 27, 2016
Police are using armored vehicles, tasers, percussion grenades and sound canons to try and disperse the protesters.
Protesters are attempted to block the state highway with their bodies, vehicles, and at one point a fire tire, in order to prevent police from advancing.
@UR_Ninja LIVE NOW: LRAD sound cannon used repeatedly on water protectors in North Dakota #noDAPL camp smack-down. https://t.co/O6hYJte0JQ
— Gillette (@RazorOCCUPYMN) October 27, 2016
PHOTO: Just behind militarized police line on Highway 1806 in North Dakota, Dakota Access pipeline company actively continues construction pic.twitter.com/CQgYXV3JGn
— Democracy Now! (@democracynow) October 27, 2016
This frontline camp sits directly in the proposed path of the Dakota Access pipeline on land purchased recently by the Dakota Access pipeline company. However, according to the water protectors, a 1851 treaty declares the entire area unceded sovereign land under control of the Sioux.
120 people were arrested last weekend in their attempt to march and establish the frontline camp. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to shoot down drones the water protecters were using to document police activity.
Meanwhile, Mayors from several U.S. cities have called on the White House to halt the Dakota Access Pipeline in order to complete a full environmental and cultural review:
Mayors call on White House to halt the Dakota Access Pipeline to complete a full environmental and cultural review. #NoDAPL#WaterIsLife pic.twitter.com/D10Wghb7yH
— Backbone Campaign (@backboneprog) October 27, 2016
The Dakota Access pipeline, should it be completed, would be a 1,172-mile pipeline that would run through Native American burial and prayer sites.
Presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have declined to support the Dakota pipeline protesters, showing us that if either of them wins come November, the elite will continue to exploit and oppress us.
This is NOT what democracy looks like.
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