Sacred Stone Camp released this blog post recapping the violence, including statements from individuals on the ground.
In response to yesterday’s events, Greenpeace spokesperson Lilian Molina said:
“Militarized police continue to abuse their power in the face of peaceful prayer at Standing Rock. The response we have seen from law enforcement to non-provocative water protectors exhibits the very worst of our country. For far too long, our government has unjustly restricted Indigenous communities’ rights and ability to access their own land, repeatedly ignoring Native sovereignty. That is exactly what we are seeing now at Standing Rock — a $10 million militarized police presence restricting Native people to the small geographical location it deems appropriate. And all in the name of protecting corporate profits.
“President Obama must step in immediately. We don’t have weeks to let this play out while Native lives are under attack and sacred land and water supply is at stake. We already know well that this and all other pipelines pose immediate threats to our land, water, and climate. There have been 220 significant pipeline spills this year alone. The Administration should revoke all permits and halt construction of this pipeline, send in Justice Department observers to prevent violence against water protectors, and order North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple to remove the National Guard from the camps. Our government needs to stop behaving as if it is waging a war against the Indigenous People of America.”
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Contact: Perry Wheeler, Greenpeace Media Officer, P: 301-675-8766
