Lee County, IA – On Sunday, October 23, Mississippi Stand, the direct action campaign in Iowa against the Dakota Access pipeline (DAPL), blockaded the access road to a site used to service the drill currently being used to bore under the Mississippi River.

Earlier in the day a funeral possession was held for “all the lives lost in the pursuit of big oil” and dozens of cars drove through Lee County, Iowa.

After the funeral procession, two people locked themselves to a concrete barrel, blocking the access road to a DAPL drill waste storage site.

Access to the work site was blocked throughout the day, and water protectors eventually took over the site entirely. As of Sunday night, the site was shut down and occupied by water protectors who had set up a vehicle blockade and a lockdown on the entry road.

“At noon we pulled into this dump site that they’ve been dumping in for at least 72 hours. We pulled in here and locked on a barrel in the middle of the road. Today, for over 8 hours now, we have taken over the site. The site now belongs to Mississippi Stand as long as we stay here – and the bore machine cannot operate if they cannot dump this sludge off. So we are gonna stay here at our new campsite, and we will remain here as long as it takes to stop the bore machine… We currently have a blockade that’s blocking access to where they’ve been dumping.” – Alex Cohen, Mississippi Stand

Also on Sunday, water protectors in North Dakota responded to the 127 arrests made on Saturday by taking over DAPL-owned land near the Oceti Sakowin camp, establishing a new winter camp there, and temporarily blockading Highway 1806.

As of Monday morning, Mississippi Stand water protectors were still in control of the DAPL drill waste storage site and the drilling under the Mississippi river has not resumed as scheduled.

Unicorn Riot will continue to regularly provide direct updates about resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Follow our media on Twitter, Facebook, and our website for more information surrounding the ongoing struggles against the DAPL.

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Unicorn Riot’s coverage of the anti-Dakota Access Pipeline struggle #NoDAPL from early summer 2016 to present:

March – May 2016

• March 29th, “Tribal Citizens Prepare to Blockade Bakken Oil Pipeline“.
• April 3rd, “Tribal Citizens Build Camp in Path of Oil Pipeline“.
• May 5th, “Sacred Stone Camp Resists Dakota Access Pipeline“.
• May 27th, “Dakota Access Pipeline Blockade Enters 2nd Month“.

August 2016

• After covering the camp in the spring of 2016, Unicorn Riot returned to Standing Rock Reservation on Wednesday, August 10th, when Standing Rock tribal members and allies blocked the entrance to the Dakota Access Pipeline construction site.
• On Thursday, August 11th, a dozen or so people were arrested blocking the construction site entrances.
• Day 3, Friday, the fight to protect land & water intensified around the construction sites of the Dakota Access Pipeline.
• On the 4th day, the pipeline resistance encampment swelled and prepared for more action.
• Monday, August 15th, land defenders stormed the construction site halting construction, and the next day construction was halted as well.
• August 17th saw State Police begin checkpoints, roadblocks, and psyops as protesters united to defend water.
• August 24th, camps prepared as Federal injunction hearing looms.
• Camps Organize to Stay as Injunction Postponed.
• On August 31st, Non-Violent Direct Action Stopped DAPL Construction for Over 6 Hours.

September 2016

• September 6, indigenous water protectors swarmed Dakota Access Pipeline site, stopped work
• September 7, Uŋpa Nuŋpa was interviewed about ongoing #noDAPL actions
• North Dakota highway patrol refused to release email correspondence with Energy Transfer Partners
• September 8, ND National Guard took over Dakota Access Pipeline checkpoints
• Friday, September 9, US Govt. overruled federal judge and requested pipeline construction halted at Lake Oahe
• Meanwhile, cultural activities continued at #NoDAPL camps despite more arrests/warrants
• September 13, 20 were arrested during #NoDAPL lockdown, including 2 Unicorn Riot journalists
• September 14, direct actions continued against Dakota Access Pipeline while legal repression intensified
• On September 16 a federal judge dissolved the unconstitutional temporary restraining order Dakota Access, LLC had filed against Stranding Rock tribal members
• September 19, as solidarity protests spread nationwide, the federal appeals court ordered construction temporarily stop on Dakota Access segment as Solidarity Protests Spread Nationwide
• September 21, #NoDAPL noise demo demanded freedom for jailed water protector Olowan Martinez
• September 22, water protectors disrupted the annual meeting of the North Dakota Petroleum Council
• September 25, water protectors planted trees on DAPL construction site
• In Iowa on September 26, a non-violent direct action from the Mississippi Stand camp stopped DAPL construction for the day
• September 26, a caravan of water protectors stopped work at DAPL site
• September 27, militarized police arrested 23 water protectors in DAPL work stoppage
• September 29, a #NoDAPL solidarity action took place at MN Enbridge office

October 2016

• • October 3rd-4th saw the “Toxic Tour,” Governor debate disruption, and water protectors attend their court arraignment
  • October 4, we learned North Dakota Governor Dalrymple’s email inbox was full of support for #NoDAPL
  • October 5, Buffer Zone Holds as Caravans Continue to Disrupt DAPL – New Felony Charges
  • October 7, 6 Arrested in Iowa #NoDAPL Action, Including Unicorn Riot Journalist
  • October 8, Iowa Water Protectors Blockade DAPL Drill Site Twice in 24 Hours
  • October 9, Federal Appeals Court Rules to Allow DAPL Construction
  • October 10, 27 Arrests After Water Protectors Pray at DAPL Site on Indigenous People’s Day
  • October 12, Lockdown Stops DAPL Construction in Iowa, 3 Arrested, Including Unicorn Riot Journalist
  • October 14, Emails Show North Dakota Budget Bureaucracy Behind #NoDAPL Policing
  • October 16, Direct Actions Continue to Stop DAPL Construction in Iowa and North Dakota
  • October 17, Four Unicorn Riot Journalists Face Charges For Covering #NoDAPL
  • October 17, Water Protectors Blockade Highway in Bismarck, Some Charges Dropped
  • October 20, As DAPL Construction Advances, Water Protectors Continue Direct Action
  • October 22, Water Protectors’ Prayer Walk Ends up with 127 Arrests, Including Unicorn Riot Journalist