Cops Jail 141 in ND: Even More ‘Water Protectors’ Step Up to the Frontline, Citing 1851 Treaty

By navajo

It was not 83 Water Protectors who were arrested on Saturday, October 22, as reported yesterday: 141 people were actually jailed! The 83 count was from the Morton County jail alone.

Due to a lack of space to hold the 141 arrested, Morton County sent protectors to several county jails, including Mercer, Cass, Stutsman, Lake Region, Stark, and McLean counties. Arrestees continue to report being strip searched for misdemeanor charges.

This seems to be a “Let’s catch everyone we can in one fell swoop” approach by police. But like other environmental protests in the U.S., this was not catch and release. Our people are being held and forced to pay bail.

And, apparently these rural police think this will stop us by reducing our numbers.

No. Even more water protectors stepped in on Sunday, Oct. 23, bravely set up roadblocks, and erected tipis for an encampment on an easement of the Dakota Access Pipeline to show that we are not giving up.

We tribes number in the thousands now on site at Standing Rock, along with our allies. A call was put out for more people to show up, especially those willing to be arrested and detained. Morton County doesn’t catch and release. It’s all about the money. Ask Dakota Access Pipeline. Do they care about our drinking water? No, corporate profits are more important. They don’t care about sinning against the water.

Militarization of the police protects the pipeline … and corporations.

My detailed news timeline on Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) vs. the water protectors can be read here if you need it. There is a link to help the tribes there, also.

An update from Sacred Stone Camp:

Cannon Ball, ND – This morning, at approximately 8am central, water protectors took back unceded territory affirmed in the 1851 Treaty of Ft. Laramie as sovereign land under the control of the Oceti Sakowin, erecting a frontline camp of several structures and tipis on Dakota Access property, just east of ND state highway 1806. This new established camp is 2.5 miles north of the Cannon Ball River, directly on the proposed path of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). This site is directly across the road from where DAPL security dogs attacked water protectors on September 3rd.

To ensure the protection of this new camp from overtly militarized law enforcement, water protectors have established three road blockades:

1. North of the Frontline Camp, on Highway 1806
2. South of the Cannon Ball River, on Highway 1806
3. Immediately west of Highway 1806, on county road 134

Police have discharged weapons, using rubber bullets to shoot down drones being used to document the police activity and actions.

This frontline camp is located on the final three 3 miles of the proposed pipeline route, before it connects with the drill pad that will take the pipeline beneath the Missouri River. Active construction of the Dakota Access pipeline is 2 miles west of this frontline camp. Oceti Sakowin water protectors continue an on-going pledge to halt active construction as frequently as possible.

Mekasi Camp-Horinek, [nephew of Kossack, Carter Camp, Wounded Knee Veteran] an Oceti Sakowin camp coordinator states, “Today, the Oceti Sakowin has enacted eminent domain on DAPL lands, claiming 1851 treaty rights. This is unceded land. Highway 1806 as of this point is blockaded. We will be occupying this land and staying here until this pipeline is permanently stopped. We need bodies and we need people who are trained in non-violent direct action.  We are still staying non-violent and we are still staying peaceful.”

Joye Braun, Indigenous Environmental Network organizer states, “We have never ceded this land. If DAPL can go through and claim eminent domain on landowners and Native peoples on their own land, then we as sovereign nations can then declare eminent domain on our own aboriginal homeland. We are here to protect the burial sites here. Highway 1806 has become the no surrender line.”

Ladonna Bravebull Allard, Sacred Stone Camp, “We stand for the water, we stand on our treaties, we stand for unci maka- we stand and face the storm.”

In my last report, I noted a call from the leaders of the water protectors who say they need people to show up who can afford to be arrested and are trained in nonviolent resistance. They also need builders who can help fortify the camps for winter.

Because we are not going anywhere until the pipeline is shut down.Φ

navajo is Daily Kos Director of Community. Organizes meatspace Daily Kos events to facilitate local political actions nationwide. Founded Native American Netroots. Co-editor of First Nations News & Views. Urban Indian.

Additional information and suggestions for action are contained in the following from Irna Landrum of Daily Kos:

141 water protectors were arrested in North Dakota over the weekend. police are increasingly aggressive in their attacks against peaceful protest and prayer ceremonies, acts the police call riots. Police shot down Native media drones, once again threatening freedom of the press.

This violent escalation is dangerous and must be stopped immediately. President Obama must intervene and stop all construction on the Dakota Access pipeline.

Daily Kos members have sent over 10,000 letters to the White House, but today we are asking that you join a national day of action in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and call President Obama today.

Here is a sample script:

White House phone number:
202-456-1111

Hello my name is _______. Police attacks against the water protectors in North Dakota are increasingly violent, pepper spraying and beating people as they pray for the water. Police attack and shut out journalists. You have to take a different stand and show a stronger commitment to people and to safe drinking water than to this pipeline. Stop construction on the Dakota Access pipeline.

After your phone call, please click here and fill out this form to tell us how the White House responds.

If you can’t call, then click here to sign and send a letter to President Obama, demanding swift action.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the hundreds of other tribes represented are not backing down. Let’s stand with them.

Keep fighting,
Irna Landrum, Daily Kos

P.S. You can read the email I sent last week below.