In an attempt to re-open a blocked bridge in Cannonball, ND, protestors were assaulted by militarized police, tear gas, and water cannons in below freezing temperatures, leading to multiple injuries.
As the controversial Dakota Access nears completion despite a government injunction on its construction, police violence against protestors is spiraling out of control. Last night, militarized police forces assaulted protestors opposing the pipeline with concussion grenades, tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons despite the below freezing temperatures. The incident took place on the Backwater Bridge near the Oceti Sakowin encampment. The bridge has been closed since late October when a clash with protestors and police in riot gear led to its forcible shut down by the authorities. The protestors were attempting to clear the bridge as they claim the blockade prevents aid and supplies from reaching their encampments and that it is harming the local economy of nearby Cannonball, ND.
After a brief confrontation with police, protestors allegedly succeeded in removing some vehicles from the highway blockade. Soon after, heavily militarized police appeared, who targeted the protestors in an all-out assault. Tear gas, pepper spray, concussion grenades, rubber bullets were used on the protestors, despite the below freezing temperatures, in a police attempt to clear protestors from the bridge. By midnight, an estimated 167 protestors were injured. Medics confirmed that a 13 year old girl was shot in the face, though they did not confirm if it was a rubber bullet or live ammunition. Medics on site also said that police had targeted the face and legs of protestors. Seven were eventually hospitalized, three of whom are said to be elders of the Standing Rock Sioux, the tribe that has led the protest against the pipeline. One of the elders suffered cardiac arrest at the scene, though medics successfully resuscitated him, though he remains in critical condition. The assault was live-streamed on Facebook though Facebook eventually cut off the feed. The brutality has already generated a firestorm of outrage and criticism on social media as the increasingly violent crackdowns on the peaceful protestors have become a national disgrace.
The great irony in all of this is that many Americans are gearing up to celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday meant to celebrate the “teamwork” shared between Native Americans and European colonists. Despite the cheerful façade that this holiday publicly portrays, Native Americans live in some of the most impoverished communities in the Western world after suffering centuries of criminal exploitation by both corporations and the federal government. Dakota Access is only the most recent example.
The Pine Ridge Sioux reservation, just miles away from Standing Rock, has the lowest life expectancy in the Western world with 47 years for males and 52 years for females. The infant mortality rate is also five times the US national average. Under these circumstances, the celebration of Thanksgiving is a cultural farce and complete hypocrisy as many of those munching on turkey and stuffing this upcoming Thursday will not be spend even a second reflecting on the centuries-long suffering and violent suppression of Native Americans that continues to this day.
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We need to find out the names and addresses and phone numbers of the pigs responsible for this and let them know that they can’t hide behind some phony badge!
I would like to know who authorized the use of force against the tribes. Why are they not being held accountable for these blatant attacks? Why is it alright for the militarized police to assault people with weapons, especially when the protestors are peaceful. This is not what policing is supposed to be about. Who is really breaking the law here and what happened to the right to protest peacefully and have the right to be heard when so many persons will be affected when pipes break, you know they will, it has already happened twice. Just because the companies responded and fixed the problems with those breaks, does not mean the environment has not been damaged. WAKE UP AMERICA AND SUPPORT THE PROTESTORS AND TELL THE GOVERNMENT THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO FORCE ACTIONS LIKE THIS ON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WITHOUT FIRST LISTENING TO CONCERNS.
I AGREE WHOLE HEARTILY.
So true there’s got to be a peaceful solution.I thought that it was against the constitution to use military force against American citizens. And it’s their land. Treaty breakers,have been since the beginning.
Want something, just take it like the government does.