350.org: Water protectors under attack [call/Tweet White House now]

Yesterday, the National Guard and State Police raided one of the peaceful resistance camps at Standing Rock. Can you call the White House at (202) 456-1111 and tell President Obama to send Justice Department observers immediately and stop the Dakota Access Pipeline?

CALL NOW

Friends,

Yesterday, the National Guard and State Police raided one of the peaceful resistance camps at Standing Rock.

This frontline camp set up over the weekend along the Dakota Access Pipeline path was cleared by hundreds of heavily militarized police. For months, peaceful actions along the pipeline route have been met by a large police presence – but yesterday's events were different than anything before. 

At least 141 water protectors were arrested after law enforcement used pepper spray, tasers, batons and rubber bullets to forcibly remove those defending sacred land and water. These brutal police tactics are dehumanizing, uncalled for, and a threat to the First Amendment rights of people protecting their land, water and climate from Big Oil.

Call the White House at (202) 456-1111 and ask President Obama to send Justice Department observers immediately and stop the Dakota Access Pipeline.

The original camps near the pipeline route – Oceti Sakowin, Sacred Stone, and Red Warrior – are standing strong. While yesterday’s events were shocking and painful, the spirit and determination of those of the front lines is unwavering.

If completed, this pipeline would carry toxic fracked oil from North Dakota under the Missouri River, immediately upstream from the Standing Rock Sioux Nation. It is not only a threat to the Native communities nearby, but a disaster for the climate.

Click here to send a tweet @POTUS urging him to step in and stop Dakota Access.

President Obama has the power to stop this project by denying the pipelines’s final federal permit. Over 200 tribes are united in opposition to Dakota Access, more than 300 people have been arrested while peacefully resisting, and numerous leaders from Jesse Jackson to Bernie Sanders have come out in support of the Standing Rock Sioux and the #NoDAPL fight.  

We know that the fossil fuel industry has enough coal, oil and gas in their existing mines and wells to push the planet past the red lines of climate safety. Dakota Access is just one symbol of their recklessness -- and the only option left is to stop building any new fossil fuel projects, and fully invest in 100% renewable energy for all.

Water protectors in Standing Rock are defending their rights, their land, and the climate. President Obama should stand with them. 

Tell President Obama to respect the rights of these water protectors and the climate. Call the White House now.

In solidarity, 

Kendall

MoveOn.org petition: Add your name: Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline once and for all

Please sign this petition by MoveOn.org:

Yesterday, militarized law enforcement agencies moved in with tanks and riot gear on water protectors who stand in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline—a massive pipeline project that would cut through four states, impact the water to the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and violate sacred sites and ancient grounds. While native elders prayed in peace, they were attacked with pepper spray, rubber bullets, as well as sound and concussion cannons. By the end of the day, more than 140 people were arrested.¹ Please, add your name and demand that President Obama reject this pipeline once and for all.

Dear MoveOn member,

My name is David Archambault II, and I'm the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which has long opposed the Dakota Access Pipeline project. This proposed pipeline presents a threat to our lands, our sacred sites, and our water. Current and future generations depend on our rivers and aquifer to live.

Will you stand in solidarity and urge President Obama to reject the Dakota Access Pipeline, once and for all?

Reject the Dakota Access Pipeline and declare this land a cultural district, eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, to ensure its protection.

SIGN THE PETITION

Thousands of American Indians, from more than 300 tribes spanning the continent, have joined with us to stand against this violation of our tribe's rights under federal laws and regulations. More than nineteen city and county governments have also joined us to stand in opposition to this pipeline.² 

We demand that the construction of this pipeline be stopped before any further damage is done.

While we engage in the long legal process to curtail construction of the pipeline, Dakota Access is still poised to begin construction. Halting the construction was an unprecedented step in response to our powerful movement—and now President Obama must reject the pipeline's permit outright.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

The Dakota Access Pipeline jeopardizes the heath of our water and would affect our people, as well as countless communities who live downstream, as the pipeline would cross four states. The pipeline, as designed, would destroy ancient burial grounds, which is a violation of federal law.³

Over the past year, I have spent a great deal of time addressing our tribe's concerns about this pipeline. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has failed to follow the law and has failed to consider the impacts of the pipeline on the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and neighboring communities.

Last month, Dakota Access bulldozed two miles of burial grounds. Their private security sicced dogs on and pepper-sprayed those who tried to protect the site. This company cannot be trusted. Urgent action is needed to prevent Dakota Access from continuing to violate federal laws.⁴

We demand to be heard, and we will continue to stand together for our nation, and for all who live with and by the Missouri River, until justice is done.

Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.

Thank you.

—David Archambault II
Chairman, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Sources:

1. "North Dakota pipeline: 141 arrests as protesters pushed back from site," The Guardian, October 28, 2016
https://act.moveon.org/go/6481?t=7&akid=172407.8526217.njP2uB

2. "Standing With Standing Rock: 19 Cities Express Solidarity Against DAPL," Indian Country, October 13, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/6454?t=9&akid=172407.8526217.njP2uB

3. "What to Know About the Dakota Access Pipeline Protests," TIME, October 28, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/6482?t=11&akid=172407.8526217.njP2uB

4. "FULL Exclusive Report: Dakota Access Pipeline Co. Attacks Native Americans with Dogs & Pepper Spray," Democracy Now!, September 6, 2016
http://act.moveon.org/go/6456?t=13&akid=172407.8526217.njP2uB

You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you. It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition here.

POWER SHIFT NETWORK: Dakota Access must be stopped.

Following is an action alert from Power Shift Network:

Yesterday, the world watched in horror as police armed with full military gear raided a camp of peaceful Indigenous water protectors who were standing up against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Police used sonic weapons and rubber bullets on protesters, and eventually arrested nearly 150 people at the 1851 Treaty Camp—named because the land the camp stood on was given to the Standing Rock Reservation under the Ft. Laramie Treaty of 1851.

The shocking images of conflict yesterday have made it clear: it’s past time for President Obama to make a choice. He can either stand up for Indigenous people’s rights, clean water, and the right to peaceful protest—or he can choose to stand on the side of Big Oil, treaty violations, and police brutality.

Add your name now and demand that President Obama make the right choice and reject the permits for the dirty, dangerous, and illegal Dakota Access Pipeline once and for all.

Although the 1851 Treaty camp was forcibly evicted yesterday, the movement to stop the Dakota Access pipeline isn’t going anywhere.

Other resistance camps are still standing strong. And Indigenous leaders are planning a wave of peaceful, escalated action—in North Dakota and around the country—in the coming days and weeks.

Expect more information very soon about ways you can take action in your community to stop this pipeline—and to target the “pipeline companies, banks and individuals behind this project with crimes against Humanity and crimes against Mother Earth,” as the leaders from Standing Rock’s Red Warrior camp have written.

In the meantime, it’s absolutely critical that we put strong pressure on President Obama to show him: the world’s eyes are on North Dakota, and now is the time to act.

Sign our urgent petition to demand that President Obama revoke the permits for the Dakota Access Pipeline once and for all.

In solidarity,

Devyn Powell
Digital Organizer
The Power Shift Network

PS: Once you've signed, here are a few more ways you can support the water protectors in North Dakota right now: first, you can click here to donate to the Red Warrior camp. Second, if you’re interested in traveling to North Dakota to support the front lines, click here to read the Red Warrior Camp’s call to action, and then click here to organize a carpool from your campus or community.

-----

Sources & more information:

1. CNN: “Dakota pipeline: Will police crackdown dampen protests?”

2. Sacred Stone Camp: “Police From 5 States Escalate Violence, Shoot Horses to Clear 1851 Treaty Camp.”

3. NoDAPL Solidarity website

Police from 5 States Escalate Violence, Shoot Horses to Clear 1851 Treaty Camp

Media release from Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN):

Police from 5 States Escalate Violence, Shoot Horses to Clear 1851 Treaty Camp

DAPL, Keep It In the Ground

For Immediate Release
October 28th, 2016

Press Contacts:
Dallas Goldtooth, 708-515-6158, Dallas@ienearth.org
Kandi Mossett, 701-214-1389, ienenergy@ienearth.org

Cannonball, ND - Over 300 police officers in riot gear, 8 ATVs, 5 armored vehicles, 2 helicopters, and numerous military-grade Humvees showed up north of the newly formed frontline camp just east of Highway 1806.  The 1851 Treaty Camp was set up this past Sunday directly in the path of the pipeline, on land recently purchased by DAPL.  Today this camp, a reclamation of unceded Dakota territory affirmed as part of the Standing Rock Reservation in the Ft. Laramie Treaty of 1851, was violently cleared.  Both blockades established this past weekend to enable that occupation were also cleared.  

In addition to pepper spray and percussion grenades, shotguns were fired into the crowd with less lethal ammunition and a sound cannon was used (see images below).  At least one person was tased and the barbed hook lodged in his face, just outside his eye. Another was hit in the face by a rubber bullet.

A prayer circle of elders, including several women, was interrupted and all were arrested for standing peacefully on the public road.  A tipi was erected in the road and was recklessly dismantled, despite promises from law enforcement that they would merely mark the tipi with a yellow ribbon and ask its owners to retrieve it.  A group of water protectors was also dragged out of a ceremony in a sweat lodge erected in the path of the pipeline, wearing minimal clothing, thrown to the ground, and arrested.

A member of the International Indigenous Youth Council (IIYC) that had her wrist broken during a mass-arrest on October 22nd was hurt again after an officer gripped her visibly injured wrist and twisted it during an attempted arrest. At least six other members of the youth council verified that they had been maced up to five times and were also shot and hit with bean bags. In addition to being assaulted, an altar item and sacred staff was wrenched from the hands of an IIYC member by police. Several other sacred items were reported stolen, including a canupa (sacred tobacco pipe).

Two medics giving aid at front line were hit with batons and thrown off the car they were sitting on. Then police grabbed another medic, who was driving the car, out of the driver side while it was still in motion. Another water protector had to jump into the car to stop it from hitting other people.

Members of the horse nation herded around 100 buffalo from the west and southwest of the Cannonball Ranch onto the the DAPL easement. One rider was reportedly hit with up to four rubber bullets his horse was reported to be hit in the legs by live rounds. Another horse was shot and did not survive.

 
A confirmed DAPL private security guard was spotted among the protectors with an automatic rifle heading towards camp. Water protectors acted swiftly to stop the man who was attempting to flee the scene in his pickup. One protector stopped the assailant’s vehicle with their own before the security guard fled to nearby waters, weapon in hand. Bureau of Indian Affairs police arrived on scene and apprehended him.

Three water protectors locked themselves to a truck in the middle of the road and surrounded it with large logs.   After several hours of standoff, the police advanced in a sweep line and moved people approximately 1 mile back down the highway towards the main encampment on the Cannonball River.  Water protectors then retreated to the bridge over Highway 1806  and erected a large burning blockade that the police were unable to cross.   

Law enforcement from at least five states (North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Nebraska) were present today through EMAC, the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.  This law was passed by the Bill Clinton administration and allows states to share law enforcement forces during emergencies.  It is intended for natural disasters and has only been used twice for protests; once in the summer of 2015 during the demonstrations in Baltimore and here on the Standing Rock Reservation. Over 100 were arrested today in total.

Kandi Mossett, Indigenous Environmental Network stated, “I went to the frontline in prayer for protection of the Missouri River & found myself in what I can only describe as a war zone. I was sprayed in the face with pepper spray, the guy next to me was shot by something that didn't break the skin but appeared to have broken the ribs & another guy beside me was randomly snatched violently by police shoving me into the officers who held me off with batons then tried to grab me.  I'm still in shock & keep waiting to wake from what's surely a nightmare though this is my reality as a native woman in 2016 trying to defend the sacred.”

Ladonna Bravebull Allard of Sacred Stone Camp says, "My people stand for the water, and they attack us. My people stand up for the graves of our people, and they attack us. My people stand up for our sacred places, and they attack us. My people pray, and they stop us, dragging us from our prayer, and throw us in the dirt. I know this is America- this is the history of my people. America has always walked though the blood of my people.

How can we stand in the face of violence? Because I was born to this land, because the roots grow out of my feet, because I love this land and I honor the water. Have we not learned from history? I pray for each of the people who stand up. We can not live like this anymore. It has to stop- my grandchildren have a right to live. The world has a right to live. The water, the life blood of the world? has a right to live. Mni Wiconi, Water of Life. Pray for the water, pray for the people. Stop Dakota Access- killer of the world."

Eryn Wise of the International Indigenous Youth Council stated, “Today more than half of our youth council were attacked, injured or arrested. In addition to our brothers and sisters being hurt and incarcerated, we saw police steal our sacred staff. I have no words for what happened to any of us today. They are trying to again rewrite our narrative and we simply will not allow it. Our youth are watching and remember the faces of the officers that assaulted them. They pray for them.”

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Shotgun into the crowd: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BysUexxOGui6a3BXQ3NWdDJ5TTQ/view?usp=sharing

Peppersray: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BysUexxOGui6VFZJemhaMU9Iek0/view?usp=sharing

Prayer Circle: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BysUexxOGui6NUJodDVKZDAxLTA/view?usp=sharing

 

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