Militarized Force Prepares Eviction of Main #NoDAPL Encampment
Cannonball, ND – After nearly a year of struggling against the Dakota Access Pipeline’s construction underneath the Missouri River, water protectors are now scheduled to be evicted from their main encampment. [Watch our LIVE updates below]
UPDATE Thursday, February 23rd, 11:45AM: Our full report from Thursday is published here. A large militarized force moved into the Oceti Sakowin main camp. We streamed live on “Cam 1” which is embedded below, or directly on Livestream here. Armored vehicles and riot police are moving around the camp, as many camp participants and medics have evacuated across the frozen Cannonball River to the Rosebud Camp.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the encampment, on unceded Fort Laramie Treaty land and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers, has a few hundred water protectors still holding steady as the eviction looms.
Ceremonial fires have been raging throughout the snow-filled morning.
Snow falling and structures burning at Oceti Sakowin #NoDAPL camp ~4.5 hours ahead of scheduled eviction by North Dakota armed forces pic.twitter.com/V5pdSnGQtA
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
For our LIVE feeds from the muddy encampments, see below.
We spoke with an Indigenous elder in the late morning who talked about passively resisting the scheduled eviction, saying,
We have no intentions on leaving, we are standing on our 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty rights, we are taking an 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty stance and we are legitimate 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty representatives. For my people out there, we stand for you, and water.”
He further stated,
This is a sacred site and we are protected by federal statutes … forcefully removing us from treaty territories is another violation. Again, we are here in peace and prayer, we are supposed to be protected and we’re not. We’re going to resist, and it’s passive resistance, we’re not going to fight them. At the same time, we’re going to be praying for them and their families for this water, that they need, that we all need.”
With less than an hour before the set eviction time of 2 p.m., many water protectors marched south out of camp towards the Cannonball bridge as more fires burned.
More fires blazing in #NoDAPL camp as large crowd marches south out of camp across Cannonball bridge pic.twitter.com/0YClPYJ39e
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
Another burning structure at Oceti Sakowin, militarized eviction by North Dakota armed forces expected in ~40 mins. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/kcC9LFJjUu
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
With less than ten minutes before the scheduled eviction, the north gate into camp was blocked with metal barricades and the security shack was lit afire.
Security shack set on fire and barricades erected at North gate entrance to Oceti Sakowin #NoDAPL camp. Eviction force expected any minute pic.twitter.com/e4LUKM6MAi
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
The scheduled eviction time of 2 p.m. came and went with no loud announcements by the police. Since then, groups of water protectors and law enforcement have had discussions on Highway 1806.
Both water protectors and law enforcement huddled in discussion right now. Sheriffs made no announcement at 2 PM, or before. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/UPoWbWngXh
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
More wood structures were lit on fire after 2:30 p.m. CST.
Another wooden structure goes up in flames in Oceti Sakowin- law enforcement assembled in groups but haven’t moved on camp yet. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/ktsLnowtOC
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
A video update from 2:50 p.m. shows fires still raging across camp with a small amount of water protectors left, riot squads readying on Highway 1806, and the media taking it all in.
#NoDAPL eviction day update 2:50 PM 2/22/17 pic.twitter.com/0tCAZCTZPX
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
After an hour and a half past the scheduled eviction time, police still had yet to enter camp and Army Corps representatives stated that they are scheduled to clean the camp at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
#NoDAPL – Another #LIVE update from 1806 – PD have yet to move in – ArmyCorps say cleanup scheduled for 9am tomorrow https://t.co/AMO8zClPTG pic.twitter.com/tJn6aIef09
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
Watch the conversation with the policy advisor for Governor Burgum that happened on Highway 1806 around 3:30 p.m. below:
Policy advisor to North Dakota Governor @DougBurgum speaking to press outside Oceti Sakowin north gate. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/YIgzbPXm2n
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
A bit after 4 p.m. CST, police officers led by the Wisconsin State Patrol started to make arrests of people on Highway 1806, including a Rabbi, legal observers, and journalists.
#NoDAPL – Police have made several violent arrests, tackling one person to the ground and punching them in the face https://t.co/YDWKf0paPs pic.twitter.com/eeZycA5NAI
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
The person seen in the above picture being tackled by Wisconsin State Troopers and Morton County Sheriffs has been identified as Eric Poemz. While he was attacked he was livestreaming through his Facebook and can be heard screaming in pain after being tackled to the ground and saying he thinks his hip is broken.
This is the video @EricPoemz was streaming when he got attacked & seriously injured by police minutes ago >>> https://t.co/lfir1EOiK1
— UNICORN RIOT (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
There have been 10 arrests so far today according to Dennis Ward from Aboriginal Peoples Television Network.
Morton County says approx 10 arrests today. 20 fires started. “2 explosions” resulting in 2 injuries. pic.twitter.com/9faHNZjeag
— Dennis Ward (@DennisWardNews) February 22, 2017
At about 5 p.m. there was an update given by two water protectors who were acting as the police liaisons.
There’s no negotiating anymore, there’s no ceremonies, they’re just gunna come and arrest. But they’ve given us one last opportunity to say ‘hey we want to leave’ and if we leave then we won’t get arrested.”
They went on to say that the Army Corp of Engineers won’t be entering the camp to do any cleaning until the area is clear of people.
There’s concerns about a group in here that wants to kill the cops. They think there’s some kind of group in here, I have not seen any group like that, but they think there is.”
Meanwhile mainstream media ABC has been allowed to stand with the police and will not be arrested.
#NoDAPL key: while corporate media gets maneuvered by PD at a distance, law enforcement attacked independent media https://t.co/VsobCTcuYt
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) February 23, 2017
KFYR-TV, a local NBC and FOX affiliate for the Bismarck-Mandan and Dickinson, North Dakota region, was live for a press conference with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier, and other state and Army officials about today’s eviction.
It’s our desire that people leave voluntarily from the camp and at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning. It’s our intention in a coordinated way again with the state of North Dakota, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Army Corp of Engineers, to enter the Oceti Camp and continue the clean up efforts that we’ve begun in the last few weeks.”
Continue to check back for updates.
Below is Unicorn Riot's coverage of the #NoDAPL anti-Dakota Access Pipeline struggle from early summer 2016 to present:
Watch our feature-length documentary, Black Snake Killaz: A #NoDAPL Story
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“.
- 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 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 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 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
- November 14, #NoDAPL Water Protectors March on ND State Capitol after Caravan Disrupts Construction
- November 14, Mississippi Stand Goes Inside Pipeline and Shuts Down DAPL Construction
- November 14, Army Corps Delays DAPL Easement
- November 15, "No More Stolen Sisters" Demonstration Blockades DAPL Man Camp; 25+ Arrests
- November 16, Despite Army Corps Statement, DAPL Moves Horizontal Drill to Missouri River Crossing
- November 17, Demonstration in Bismarck-Mandan, Cass County Deputies Beat Man Bloody
- November 20, Police Attack Unarmed Water Protectors w/ Rubber Bullets, Tear Gas, and Water Cannons; 300+ injured
- November 21, Land Defense & Water Protection Actions Ripple Across Turtle Island
- November 22, Hundreds Target U.S. Army Corps Building in St. Paul w #NoDAPL Message
- November 22, Anonymous DDOS Munitions Vendor After Sheriffs Attack #NoDAPL
- November 22, #NoDAPL Water Protector Faces Possible Loss Of Her Arm After Police Attack
- November 24, Water Protectors Bridge onto Turtle Island; Mandan Thanksgiving Street Feast
- November 25, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Announces Intent to Close Oceti Sakowin #NoDAPL Camp
- November 29, Excessive Force Lawsuit Filed Against Morton County Sheriff for November 20 Bridge Assault
- December 1, Direct Action Continues To Disrupt Dakota Access Pipeline Construction in Iowa
- December 3, Divest from DAPL; Three Wells Fargo Locations Targeted in Minneapolis, Eight People Locked Down and Two Arrested
- December 4, Army Corps Denies Dakota Access Pipeline Easement
- December 8, Veterans Apologize for Genocide & March to Backwater Bridge in Blizzard
- December 8, Nebraska Supplied State Troopers, Surveillance Aircraft to North Dakota Under EMAC
- December 12, #DivestFromDAPL Action Disrupts Wells Fargo Branch Grand Opening, Doors Secured with Bike Locks
- December 19, First Water Protector Trials Set for January as Another ND Pipeline Leaks
- January 2, Massive #DivestFromDAPL Banner Unfurled During Vikings Game at US Bank Stadium
- January 5, Interview: Water Protector who Scaled Vikings Stadium to Drop “US Bank DIVEST #NoDAPL” Banner
- January 15, Indigenous-Led Pipeline Resistance Camps Spread Across the USA
- January 24, Hundreds of Minnesotans Protest, Take to the Streets on Trump’s Inauguration
- January 25, Trump Pushes Forward DAPL & KXL Pipeline Approvals; Resistance Continues
- January 30, Denver Joins Global Prayer Action to #DefundDAPL
- February 7, Army Corps Grants Easement as Repression Continues at Standing Rock
- February 17, Eviction Threats Loom as Hundreds Remain at #NoDAPL Camps
- February 22, Militarized Force Executes Eviction of Main #NoDAPL Encampment
- February 23, North Dakota Dismantles #NoDAPL Oceti Camp
- February 27, Three Unicorn Riot Journalists Face Trial This Week From DAPL Coverage
- March 2, Three Unicorn Riot Journalists Have #NoDAPL Arrest Charges Dropped
- March 11, Rise With Standing Rock: Native Nations March on Denver
- March 22, Dakota Access Pipeline Sabotaged in Several States, Authorities Claim
- April 5, One Year Sacred Stone Celebration
- April 16, North Dakota Sheriff Advising South Dakota and Nebraska on Keystone XL
- April 16, North Dakota Sheriff Advising South Dakota and Nebraska on Keystone XL
- May 10, Dakota Access Pipeline Spills at South Dakota Pump Station
- May 29, DAPL Security Leak Shows Coordinated Surveillance and Repression of Water Protectors
- June 1, Dakota Access Pipeline Begins Commercial Operations
- June 14, Federal Judge Says Dakota Access Pipeline Environmental Review Was Inadequate
- July 24, Two Women Claim Responsibility for Sabotage and Arson Attacks to Stop DAPL
- July 24, Sheriffs’ Association Secretly Waged “Information War” on #NoDAPL Movement
- January 16, Red Fawn Fallis Enters Non-Cooperating Plea Agreement
- January 22, #NoDAPL Water Protector ‘Rattler’ Takes Non-Cooperating Plea
- January 22, Judge Accepts Red Fawn Fallis Plea Agreement
- September 3, Ruby Montoya Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea, Citing Coercion, Entrapment and Mental Health
- July 26, Prosecutor Seeks 8 Years in Prison and Terrorism Enhancement for DAPL Saboteur Ruby Montoya
Please consider a tax-deductible donation to help sustain our horizontally-organized, non-profit media organization: