There have been at least 141 arrests of peaceful protestors thus far at the Standing Rock Reservation. The protesters are trying to protect the land and water supply from the Dakota Access Pipeline. Dakota Access LLC and parent company Energy Transfer Partners are trying to build the Dakota Access Pipeline on a Standing Rock sacred burial ground, Amongst the biggest fear from protesters is that once the pipeline is constructed, it’s only a matter of time until their drinking water becomes contaminated. Given the history of leaks and ruptures of pipelines, they have great reason to be concerned.
There were recent reports of Dakota Access Pipeline security unleashing dogs on protesters and one instance where a pregnant woman was bit. Pepper spray was also used to try an disperse the crowd. Police snipers were observed watching the peaceful protest from their armored vehicles and aiming their weapons directly at unarmed protesters.
Officers are helping Dakota Access LLC ignore the 1851 treaty between the US and several Native American tribes. They are brutalizing those seeking to protect the land from the impending corporate greed project.
Protesters that have been arrested were either cuffed or zip tied, then stuffed into cages. Numbers were written on the arms of the detained who were brutally assaulted, tazed, maced, or some combination of the three, during the process. Woman were even being strip-searched in plain view of male officers. To further depict the lack of mercy, an elderly diabetic woman with a blood sugar level of 488 was not treated, and was released with no assistance whatsoever. At the very least, an ambulance should have been called — this woman was in need of serious medical attention.
Zip ties used were tightened to much that peoples wrists and hands were turning purple from the lack of circulation. Nearby cars were impounded after officers were allegedly searching the vehicles but protesters feared contraband would be planted to increase the severity of the charges to be filed.
On a happy note, $173 thousand turned up from an anonymous donor to bail the protesters out of jail. Over the past few days, the International Indian Treaty Council has been hearing testimony of human rights violations at Standing Rock.
President Barack Obama has commented on the situation and states that his administration is working on some options to reroute the pipeline.
Protesters on Wednesday were building a footbridge across Cantapeta Creek. The Morton County Sheriff’s Department said “Law enforcement is currently engaged in a standoff with protesters on the banks of the Cantapeta Creek. Protesters are trying to gain access onto private property also known as the Cannon Ball Ranch.” The department was ordered bt US Army Corps of Engineers to remove the bridge and to arrest anyone trying to cross for criminal trespassing. Police removed the bridge with a boat. Protesters swam and used their own boats to cross. Protesters were warned that crossing the river would lead to charges for violating numerous federal and state laws.
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