#NoDAPL Water Protectors March on ND State Capitol after Caravan Disrupts Construction
Bismarck, ND – On Monday morning, hundreds of water protectors began a day of action by departing in four different caravans, corresponding to the four directions, to hold actions and demonstrations against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
One group of water protectors entered a pipeline easement off of Highway 6 in Morton County, causing all the workers in the area to leave for the day.
Before people left the area, private security mercenaries hired by Dakota Access threatened water protectors with baseball bats.
JUST HAPPENED: Mercenary DAPL security threatened unarmed water protectors with bats #NoDAPL #standingrock https://t.co/dh40CwKZMp pic.twitter.com/KsH03uaGVq
— Jon Z (@Rebelutionary_Z) November 14, 2016
One of the security guards was heard in a livestream video calling the water protectors “the scum of the earth” while holding baseball bats.
#NoDAPL – Mercenary Brute with bat on right, "I don't care about you..you're ppl..your land..you people are scum of the earth" (from stream) pic.twitter.com/Z2GPREeRvW
— Jon Z (@Rebelutionary_Z) November 14, 2016
Another convoy of water protectors in vehicles was reportedly intercepted by police, who prevented them from traveling towards Mandan on their chosen route and forced them to take several turns, lengthening the drive.
Longtime direct action trainer and organizer Lisa Fithian, who has been present at Standing Rock providing assistance to indigenous leadership, was targeted and arrested by law enforcement as she stopped at a gas station during the caravan. Records show Lisa Fithian bonded out of the Morton County Jail on Monday afternoon and has been charged with Disturbing the Peace.
Later in the morning, the groups of water protectors from the four different caravans began to regroup at the state capitol grounds in Bismarck, ND, holding prayer ceremonies and sharing songs.
Different convoys of #NoDAPL water protectors that left main Oceti Sakowin camp this morning starting to converge at ND capitol grounds pic.twitter.com/mmvweXWH2C
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) November 14, 2016
As the crowd at the capitol grounds swelled from dozens to hundreds, the water protectors decided to march through downtown Bismarck to ask for support from the local residents.
The pipeline was originally planned to go very close to Bismarck, but local residents of the mostly white city rejected the route, citing concerns over drinking water being contaminated by an oil spill. This led to the pipeline being re-routed within a mile of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, in what many have called a clear example of environmental racism.
The unpermitted march took the streets of Bismarck for several blocks until a line of Bismarck police officers in riot gear stopped the crowd at Rosser Ave., telling them that Rosser was the busiest street in Bismarck and the march would not be allowed to go any further.
The crowd stopped at the intersection of Rosser & 3rd, outside a federal building, which several water protectors had reportedly entered to demand that the federal government stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. The crowd gathered to listen to songs and prayers shared by youth and elders.
Eventually police interrupted an elder who was singing to declare “this is an unlawful protest” and ordered those gathered to disperse.
Unicorn Riot was live for the duration of the march and street gathering in Bismarck:
Monday’s events came just two days after water protectors gathered in prayer outside of a DAPL work yard in Mandan on Saturday, during which time a DAPL employee waved a loaded pistol at the crowd, pistol whipped several individuals, and fired shots into the air.
https://twitter.com/SacredStoneCamp/status/797622729268690944
As a national call for #NoDAPL Day of Action at Army Corps of Engineers takes place on November 15th, 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 Dakota Access Pipeline.
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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
- October 23, Law Enforcement Attack Private Drone as Water Protectors Erect Blockade & New Winter Camp
- October 24, Mississippi Stand Blockades Iowa DAPL Drill Waste Site, Drilling Stops
- October 25, Records Release: Morton County’s Law Enforcement Mutual Aid Assistance Agreement
- Hundreds Flood Minneapolis City Hall to Demand Local Sheriff Withdraw from North Dakota
- October 26, Tensions Rise as Pipeline Construction Nears #NoDAPL Blockade
- October 27, Police and Military Attack Oceti Sakowin Treaty Camp
November 2016
- November 1, #NoDAPL Solidarity Rally & Sit-In in Minneapolis Prods Sheriff into Removing Deputies
- November 1, DAPL Resistance Continues Despite Advancing Construction
- November 2, Police Attack Water Protectors Defending Sacred Sites
- November 5, DAPL Construction Nears US Army Corps Land While Still Lacking Permits
- November 6, Water Protectors Attempt to Reclaim Sacred Burial Site, Demonstrate in Cemetery
- November 8, Dakota Access Announces Plan to Drill Under Missouri River Within Weeks
- November 11, Dakota Access Pipeline Work Stopped As Water Protectors Storm Site; 30+ Arrested
