Dakota Pipeline 11-7-2016

7, November 2016                 Dakota Pipeline

President Obama is right to call for an alternative route for the Dakota access pipeline away from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.  But this has not received the immediate attention it deserves. The Army Corps of Engineers needs to respond to President Obama’s call and move quickly to deescalate the mounting tensions between the Native Indians, their supporters and law enforcement. 

The situation is rapidly spiraling out of control with flashbang grenades, sound cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, and attack dogs. The images out of Cannon Ball North Dakota resemble scenes from a war zone. To make matters worse, police forcibly evacuated a camp established on land that belonged to the Sioux tribe, affirmed in an 1851 treaty.

For months, the water protectors have endured violent repression in response to their peaceful protests to block the Dakota Access Pipeline which would endanger the water supply from the Missouri River, their sacred lands and way of life.

Blatant racism has also reared its ugly head. An environmental impact report routed the pipeline away from its original path to protect the 92% of predominantly white residents of Bismarck of a possible oil spill. Now the Standing Rock Sioux is facing a similar threat. No environmental impact report has been filed to ensure the safety of the current pipeline.

This would be a wonderful opportunity to honor the Native Indians who have endured centuries of broken treaties and genocide of their people.