Five unarmed Native American anti-Bakken Dakota Access Pipeline protestors praying on the side of the road were given five minutes to stop praying and leave or face arrest by over 40 police officers from at least eight departments in three states. Officers had an armored vehicle, acoustic weapon, riot gear, automatic weapons, and batons.
Water
Protectors, a group of Native Americans and their allies lead by the
Standing Rock Sioux working to defeat the Bakken Dakota Access
Pipeline, sat down on the shoulder of a public road to pray after the
voluntary end of a larger protest.
The
prayer lasted approximately 10 minutes. As they prayed the police
continued to garner more forces. Police forces started at about 30
officers with no armored vehicles and swelled up to 40 officers with
an armored vehicle.
Video
taken at the scene shows the continued influx of officers.
A
single officer approached the group and told the men they had five
minutes to stop praying and leave or face arrest because their
prayers were considered an unlawful protest.
The
men praying eventually left and police made no arrests.
“The
law was broken by 40 officers,” said praying Water Protector
Makoons, “including freedom of religion, and speech”
“Prayer
does not have no time limit; only showers in prison do,” said Black
Crow, another praying Water Protectors.
Two
locations had separate actions by Water Protectors.
North
Dakota police departments present were; North Dakota Fish and Game,
Grand Forks Police Department, Stark County, North Dakota State
Parks, Williams County, and Minot Police Department. Dane County,
WI, and Quinn County, SD were also present. More departments may have
been present.
Water
Protectors are working to stop the completion of the Bakken Dakota
Access Pipeline which goes under the Missouri and Mississippi River
and over the Ogallala Aquifer. Water Protectors have taken up camp
just inside and outside of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation near
Cannon Ball, ND. The Missouri is the reservations primary source of
drinking water.
Over
100 Water Protectors, journalists, and legal observers have been
arrested in recent weeks on charges ranging from inciting a riot to
trespass. Journalist Amy Goodman from NPR has been charged with
inciting a riot for her coverage private security dogs attacking
water protectors. Emmy winning documentary film producer Deia
Schlosberg was arrested on 3 felony charges and is facing 45 years in
prison.
Video:
https://youtu.be/ds7mxxooiZ0
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