[News] Police Forcefully Arrest Standing Rock Water Protectors

[Anti-Imperialist News]

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Police-Forcefully-Arrest-Standing-Rock-Water-Protectors-20170222-0002.html 



  Police Forcefully Arrest Standing Rock Water Protectors

February 22, 2017

Police surrounded the Oceti Sakowin Camp at Standing Rock on Wednesday, 
arresting the first of the remaining water protectors as the latter 
called for solidarity and vowed to continue resistance against the US$3 
billion Dakota Access Pipeline 
<http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/What-You-May-Not-Know-About-the-Dakota-Access-Pipeline-20160911-0015.html> 
re-approved by President Donald Trump.

The standoff is being filmed live from the camp.

    MoveOn: RT demopinions: Watch on #Periscope
    <https://twitter.com/hashtag/Periscope?src=hash>: Oceti Sakowin Camp
    eviction day. #standingrock
    <https://twitter.com/hashtag/standingrock?src=hash> #waterislife
    <https://twitter.com/hashtag/waterislife?src=hash> #NoDAPL
    <https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoDAPL?src=hash> https://t.co/290KOFKtsm

    — Elise Mysels (@02Cents0) February 22, 2017
    <https://twitter.com/02Cents0/status/834538936823382017>

In a parting gesture, the water protectors gathered to sing a victory 
song. "We want to walk out with dignity. We understand that this is not 
a defeat but a victory," an unseen water protector says during a live 
recording.

"Everyone here is in violation of the governor's orders ... You will be 
arrested," a police officer is heard saying to the crowd, as the water 
protesters yell, "We are not going to leave."

On Tuesday, the Army Corps of Engineers refused to extend Wednesday's 
eviction deadline set by North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum last week, 
citing concerns about flooding.

However most involved in the water protection camp — which, since its 
founding last April, has galvanized millions 
<http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Indigenous-West-Papua-Sends-Solidarity-to-Standing-Rock-20161201-0020.html> 
in the fight for Indigenous sovereignty and the battle against pipelines 
<http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Will-Canadas-Oil-Pipelines-Spur-Standing-Rock-Resistance-2.0-20161106-0005.html> 
— say the move is simply a ruse to end the movement.

"This is a message of intimidation," one water protector told The Intercept.

    We are surrounded by federal & state law enforcement. Our spirits
    remain high. Indigenous peoples have not and will never be broken.
    #NoDAPL <https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoDAPL?src=hash>
    pic.twitter.com/Nfpcrvwwkw <https://t.co/Nfpcrvwwkw>

    — tara houska (@zhaabowekwe) February 21, 2017
    <https://twitter.com/zhaabowekwe/status/834150834933899264>

Water protectors had requested an extension of the eviction order to 
allow for a clean up of the camp, also noting that a vital environmental 
impact study 
<http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Standing-Rock-Seeks-Environmental-Impact-Statement-From-Govt-20170108-0001.html> 
has yet to be completed on the project which violates the Treaty rights 
of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation and threatens the drinking water of 
millions of people.

In a viral video released on Twitter on Monday, women water protectors 
expressed their continued defiance to the project as well as concern 
about arrests and police brutality 
<http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Police-Unleash-Military-Style-Assault-at-Standing-Rock--20161121-0003.html> 
during the planned eviction.

"After the deadline we are all at risk of facing arrest, police 
brutality, federal charges and prison time," says one of the unnamed 
women in the video

"In the history of colonization, they've always given us two options," 
says another. "Give up our land or go to jail, give up our rights or go 
to jail. And now, give up our water, or go to jail. We are not criminals."

"They've been trying to take us down for hundreds of years," another 
woman says. "They can keep trying, and we're still going to be here, and 
we need help. There aren't many of us left."

"They don't understand people are willing to die here," one 90-year-old 
woman told The Intercept. "They don't understand we will not back down. 
We have our ancestors with us and we are in prayer that Tunkashila 
(Great Spirit in Lakota) will guide us in our freedom."

The neighboring Sacred Stone Camp 
<http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/DAPL-Protestors-Start-to-Move-Camp-Amid-Safety-Concerns--20170113-0007.html>, 
which is on land owned by Stand Rock Sioux Tribe member LaDonna Allard, 
was also issued an eviction notice last week by the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs which claims jurisdiction on the land, despite the fact that the 
camp had been endorsed in a vote by the Standing Rock Sioux council back 
in June.

Despite the expected eviction, those remaining at the camp and their 
allies were defiant that the fight against the pipeline isn't over.

The Indigenous Environmental Network issued a statement on their 
Facebook page calling on people to join a massive March 5 action planned 
for Washington, D.C., in protest of the pipeline project.

"The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and Indigenous grassroots leaders call on 
our allies across the U.S. and around the world to peacefully March on 
Washington, D.C.," the statement said. "This movement has evolved into a 
powerful global phenomenon highlighting the necessity to respect 
Indigenous nations and their right to protect their homeland, 
environment, and future generations. For those who cannot march with us, 
we ask that you take peaceful action at home in your tribal nations, 
states, cities, town, villages, and provinces," it concluded.

"The whole movement isn't over," said a water protector in an IEN video.

-- 
Freedom Archives 522 Valencia Street San Francisco, CA 94110 415 
863.9977 www.freedomarchives.org
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