Morton County, ND – Various law enforcement agencies from North Dakota and several other states have sent officers and equipment to support operations led by the Morton County Sheriff’s Department against #NoDAPL water protectors.

Earlier this month, Unicorn Riot spoke over the phone with Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser about his department’s MRAP armored vehicle which has been seen at most protests against DAPL since late September. Kaiser clarified that Stutsman County actually had lent their MRAP out and that it was being operated by SWAT officers from Bismarck. He also confirmed to us that a statewide mutual agreement was in place for sending law enforcement to support Morton County Sheriff, as well as an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request for out-of-state law enforcement.

Through a public records request to the Grand Forks Police Department, Unicorn Riot has acquired a copy of the “Mutual Aid Assitance [sic]” document that the Morton County Sheriff’s Department has been signing with the heads of other North Dakota law enforcement agencies.  In this document, the City of Grand Forks agrees, in the event that the “Requesting Agency” (Morton County Sheriff) “is experiencing large crowd protesting”, to

furnish, upon its discretion, those resources, services and personnel which it deems to be available to the Requesting Agency as necessary to provide crowd control assistance.

The document also outlines how Grand Forks police acting under this agreement will have the same authority as the Morton County Sheriff when operating in Morton County. The Morton County Sheriff agrees to reimburse Grand Forks “by invoice payable within 30 days.”

Download PDF

Local residents in many communities around the Midwest have expressed shock and anger that their law enforcement personnel have been diverted to suppress the water protection campaign in North Dakota.

On October 25th, Madison Wisconsin’s Badger Herald reported that the ten Dane County deputies previously dispatched had been recalled due to local opposition.

Another deputy sent from Wisconsin, Ryan D. Fowler of St Croix County Sheriff’s Office (one of four sent from there), was arrested on October 12th under suspicion of being in physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol at a Bismarck area hotel parking lot, according to Forum News Service.

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.

To support our volunteer-operated, horizontally-organized, non-profit media collective please consider a tax-deductible donation:

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