Hundreds Target U.S. Army Corps Building in St. Paul w #NoDAPL Message

St. Paul, MN – A #NoDAPL national day of action occurred on November 15th, 2016 along with actions across the globe in solidarity with the water protectors struggling to prevent the Dakota Access Pipeline from poisoning of the water supply of millions.

Unicorn Riot was live from St. Paul, Minnesota, where hundreds gathered on a Tuesday at noon.

We are #LIVE from #StPaul at #NoDAPL National Day of Action @USACEHQ – hundreds marching now https://t.co/zcDC9sOoZx pic.twitter.com/IZCDiEJCeL

— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) November 15, 2016

The action started in downtown St. Paul at Mears Park. Speakers led the rally talking about the importance of the water protectors in North Dakota.

The crowd then marched west on 4th St. towards the St. Paul District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers building. Puppeteers led the march with stampeding buffaloes as youth on megaphones led chants such as “Mni Wiconi – Water Is Life“.

“#MniWiconi – #WaterIsLife” chanted by hundreds as buffaloes stampede towards #StPaul‘s @USACEHQ – #NoDAPL https://t.co/zcDC9sOoZx pic.twitter.com/uk1dHcVaKH

— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 15, 2016

After unsuccessfully gaining entry into the building that houses the U.S. Army Corps St. Paul District office, the crowd stood outside listening to speeches while the police blocked the streets for them.

Hundreds outside of #StPaul‘s @USACEHQ – @Nataanii_Means speaking of life on frontlines #NoDAPL – We’re #LIVE https://t.co/zcDC9sOoZx pic.twitter.com/YdiZH6TBh5

— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 15, 2016

Nataani Means spoke about what life is like in the camps and being on the frontlines.

“It’s hard out there, it’s hard to live out there. It’s cold. We don’t get any money from this, regardless of what GoFundMe’s say. We don’t get any money. We don’t do this for any kind of fame. We do this for the right to have clean water. For life. This is not a Standing Rock versus the Government issue, this isn’t cowboys and Indians or nothing like that. This is for the basic right of human beings fighting for clean water and to oppose big oil.” – Nataani Means

He also spoke about the action that happened that day in North Dakota, where police blockaded a caravan of water protectors and went from car to car pulling people out and arresting them.

"…police in riot gear, some armed with assault rifles, walked car to car, picking people out for arrest." https://t.co/HcVyOmUXkO #NoDAPL

— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) November 17, 2016

View Nataani Means speech below:

Speeches happened for around forty five minutes and a round dance took place in the middle of the street.

We’re #LIVE in #StPaul outside @USACEHQ – tune in here: https://t.co/zcDC9sOoZx #NoDAPL National Day of Action pic.twitter.com/lkC4GNVfP9

— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 15, 2016

The crowd split into two groups after the speeches. One section of the crowd marched to Wells Fargo’s branch in downtown St. Paul, led by a horse carriage, while the other section went back to Mears Park before dispersing.

Dozens join a separate march heading thru downtown #StPaul happening now – #NoDAPL National Day of Action – we’re #LIVE pic.twitter.com/onDGSVRAjh

— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 15, 2016

Seeing protesters approaching the bank, Wells Fargo employees and bank security quickly locked the glass doors. Dozens of people and eventually the buffalo puppets stampeded into the hallway that housed Wells Fargo.

Water protectors in #StPaul brought their msg of #MniWiconi to @WellsFargo, a funder in #DAPL – #NoDAPL – #LIVE https://t.co/zcDC9sOoZx pic.twitter.com/xPs9QvIybI

— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 15, 2016

Bank customers and onlookers filled the atrium and hallways of the building. Speakers described the importance of divesting from banks like Wells Fargo who have stakes in oil companies like Energy Transfer Partners.

When the buffalo puppets entered the building, they symbolically stampeded towards the bank to demand it divest from the Dakota Access Pipeline as cheers erupted from the gathered onlookers. After about a half hour of bringing the message to Wells Fargo, the crowd marched back to Mears Park and then dispersed.

To view the full livestreams of the St. Paul action, view below:

To see a list of the funders of the Dakota Access Pipeline and financial reports, this report from September has detailed information, as we see more articles continue to come out questioning the financial strength, viability, and contracts and deadline of the pipeline.

Below is an image from Food & Water Watch detailing the specific banks’ involvement in the Dakota Access Pipeline.

In further bank-pipeline news, on Monday, November 21st, women in Philadelphia locked themselves down to the front doors of TD Bank to demand they divest their “money from DAPL“.

Women shut down TD Bank in Philadelphia, PA in solidarity with Standing Rock, demanding they #DivestFromDAPL pic.twitter.com/RJHdqZ7tWl

— Eva Resnick-day (@eresnickday) November 21, 2016

A total of six people were arrested during this action. To read their press release click here.

Unicorn Riot will continue to 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 Dakota Access Pipeline.

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