Pipeline Causes Protest Over Treaty Lands
posted by Cassandra Carter | October 20, 2016 | In NewsThe Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and its Sacred Stone Camp created a social media storm this past month over with their public protesting of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), which would run from North Dakota to Illinois, was halted temporarily after the federal government stepped in. Once in Illinois, the DAPL would connect to other existing pipelines.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and nearly 100 other tribes are protesting DAPL because of the negative environmental impact and that it could destroy sacred sites during its construction.
“Our indigenous people have been warning for 500 years that the destruction of Mother Earth is going to come back and it’s going to harm us,” David Archambault, tribal chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux, told Reuters. “Now our voices are getting louder.”
Videos and photos have been posted all over social media showing nonviolent protesters being attacked by dogs and pepper spray from private security contractors, what some call mercenaries.
In a clip posted by We Are The Media, you see and hear the protesters chanting, “Water is life” before they are peppered sprayed.
On September 20, Archambault addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland to garner international opposition to the construction of the DAPL near the reservation. Three days later the U.N. has called the U.S. government to stop the pipeline because of the threats to the aboriginal community.
Green Party presidential nominee Dr. Jill Stein was issued an arrest warrant, on September 6, for spray-painting construction equipment. When asked by the Chicago Tribune if it was appropriate for a presidential candidate to practice civil disobedience, she responded, “…I think it would have been inappropriate for me not to have done my small part to support the incredible courage and sacrifice that’s going on right now at the Standing Rock Sioux.”
Recently Sen. Bernie Sanders visited Standing Rock Sioux, while Clinton and Trump have yet to speak out on the issue.
The protesters have received support from all over the country from academics to unions.
To support the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other tribes, visit standingrock.org and use the hashtag #NoDAPL
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