20 Arrested During #NoDAPL Lockdown, Including 2 Unicorn Riot Journalists
Morton County, ND – Multiple lockdowns took place at two Dakota Access Pipeline construction sites in Morton County North Dakota. All work was stopped for the day as police arrested twenty people, including targeting and arresting two Unicorn Riot journalists.
Water Protectors Arrested by Militarized Police from Unicorn Riot.
Unicorn Riot covered both actions and were live to record the militarized response and mass arrest at the first site.
NEW(ER) VIDEO of ND Hwy Patrol targeting & arresting Unicorn Riot journalists covering #NoDAPL actions pic.twitter.com/hBAVHoYwnY
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) September 15, 2016
The non-violent direct action, which included white allies performing the lock downs, started in the morning in rural Morton County, North Dakota.
Currently 2 lockdowns in place on DAPL construction by white allies standing in solidairty w/ Standing Rock #noDAPL pic.twitter.com/Qh18fnogT5
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016
A surveillance plane and helicopter circled overhead while police on the ground blocked all road access to both sites.
Small aircraft likely conducting surveillance, flying low in circles over site of current #NoDAPL lockdown action pic.twitter.com/VjsENZFjRb
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016
Yellow helicopter just arrived on scene, flying very low #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/B3gt2Eg7nF
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016
Construction equipment was still warm as people locked down to stop the laying of the pipeline. Fresh trenches dug deep in the earth showed that pipes had just been laid.
Video report: Despite modest intervention by the Obama administration, Dakota Access Pipeline construction continues pic.twitter.com/aVWXhqzvTK
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) September 15, 2016
A second non-violent direct action, which also shut down pipeline work for the day, occurred in a separate location.
Workers stop construction of #DakotaAccessPipeline at second site after #NonViolentDirectAction #NoDapl pic.twitter.com/FkivWWqWZa
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016
At the second location, workers shared their joy with the water protectors as they left their equipment for the day.
Workers smile as they shut down their construction machinery at second site #NoDapl pic.twitter.com/QbnkDcYLBh
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016
As the second site stopped work, dozens of riot police arrived to the first site, armed with assault rifles and less-lethal weapons. Around 20 people were arrested at the site of the #NoDAPL lockdown, including medics and two Unicorn Riot journalists.
BREAKING: ~20 people arrested during #NoDAPL lockdown at construction site, including two Unicorn Riot journalists. pic.twitter.com/dtnyAvBncG
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016
As arrests were under way, Facebook’s automatic censor system blocked our live video stream.
we are now having connection issues & at same time @facebook has blocked our @livestream URL https://t.co/JCOVR1Y6bs pic.twitter.com/J7UEFE2ogF
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016
Now back LIVE with massed riotpolice , they just started moving. Facebook is blocking us! https://t.co/JCOVR1Y6bs pic.twitter.com/z4UU9H0mpx
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016
“So they’re pointing at everyone with cameras saying, he’s going, she’s going…So, it seems like they’re targeting media for arrest. We might be getting arrested here…” – Unicorn Riot journalist, via live video stream, just before being arrested.
NEW(ER) VIDEO of ND Hwy Patrol targeting & arresting Unicorn Riot journalists covering #NoDAPL actions pic.twitter.com/hBAVHoYwnY
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 15, 2016
Here’s the livestream of some of the arrests as well as the minutes right before Unicorn Riot journalists are arrested:
UPDATE: Both Unicorn Riot journalists were bonded out of jail after being booked on misdemeanor charges of Criminal Trespass.
The Morton County Sheriff’s Office lists 23 people as having been arrested and all are charged with Criminal Trespass. In a press release issued on Wednesday, Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier announced added charges for the water protectors who used lockboxes to attach themselves to Dakota Access Pipeline construction machinery.
“Carlo Voli and Corey Maxa were arrested Tuesday, September 13th and will face an additional charge of reckless endangerment for attaching themselves to equipment…
The Morton County States Attorney’s office will pursue felony charges against the protesters who attached themselves to equipment due to the seriousness of the crime. Law enforcement officers are put in a dangerous situation when freeing these individuals, there is also a danger posed to DAPL, their workers and equipment along with the protester putting themselves also in a dangerous circumstance. We continue to encourage people to protest in peaceful and lawful manners.” – Morton County Sheriff 9/14/16 Press Release
For more information on the increased charges levied against those who locked down, visit our report from Wednesday’s actions and legal updates.
For a recap from the month of August’s action, see below.
- 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
- Indigenous Water Protectors Swarm Dakota Access Pipeline Site, Stop Work
- Ongoing #NoDAPL Water Protection Actions – Interview With Uŋpa Nuŋpa
- North Dakota Highway Patrol Refuses to Release Emails with Energy Transfer Partners
- ND National Guard Take Over Dakota Access Pipeline Checkpoints
- US Govt. Overrules Federal Judge, Orders Pipeline Construction Halted at Lake Oahe
- Cultural Activities Continue at #NoDAPL Camps, More Arrests/Warrants
For our coverage earlier this spring of the Sacred Stone Camp, see May 27th report, “Dakota Access Pipeline Blockade Enters 2nd Month“; May 5th, “Sacred Stone Camp Resists Dakota Access Pipeline“; April 3rd, “Tribal Citizens Build Camp in Path of Oil Pipeline“; March 29th, “Tribal Citizens Prepare to Blockade Bakken Oil Pipeline“.
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