On Thursday, October 27, over 140 people were arrested for an indigenous-led protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) through the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. In addition to the arrest of over a hundred organizers, many of who were under 18, hundreds of people, including children and elderly, were threatened and assaulted by law enforcement.
The violence inflicted by the police force, backed by armed corporate militarized agents, included the use of pepper spray and mace, physical force, and discharge of firearms toward protestors. Protestors were physically assaulted, beaten, shot, threatened, and arrested for being courageous enough to protect indigenous rights. Furthermore, those arrested are forbidden from posting bail.
DAPL is a nearly 3 billion dollar fracked-oil pipeline slated to cross indigenous treaty territory and the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The construction of DAPL is being organized by international fossil-fuel companies and banks. Nonviolent protest is crucial to resisting a project that would endanger the homes and lives of the indigenous peoples of Standing Rock Sioux.
Throughout US history, we have already displaced millions of indigenous peoples through American expansion. Even with the awareness we currently have about the violence and destruction European expansion has inflicted on indigenous peoples, we are continuing to protect capitalist interests over the interests of Native groups. Even worse, our government actively works to make it impossible for indigenous people to fight for their political interests by barring them from bail and reacting violently to completely justified protests against destruction of sites that are sacred to so many.
The scene on Thursday resembled a war zone, with blaring sirens, armed vehicles, militarized police units, and bulldozers plowing through the treaty territory. One protestor and documentary filmmaker expressed that she was more fearful of this situation in North Dakota than she had been when she reported in Iraq. If you are interested in seeing the videos taken at this militarized police attack on the treaty camp, please watch this video (trigger warning).
If you are against the human rights violations that threaten sacred indigenous land, water quality and accessibility, advancement of American capitalist interest, and our environment, please sign this petition and share this article, so your friends and family know what is at stake.
