Violent protests over a Dakota oil pipeline between Native American rights activists and pipeline workers escalated into chaotic violence last night, and at least one protestor was arrested for turning a gun on police.
The months-long protest over the pipeline spiraled out of control when hundreds of law enforcement officers moved in to force activists off private property Thursday.
The nearly six-hour operation dramatically escalated the dispute over Native American rights and the project’s environmental impact, with officers in riot gear firing bean bags and pepper spray.
Donnell Hushka, a spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriff’s Department, said 141 people were arrested.
Among those arrested was a woman who pulled out a .38-caliber pistol and fired three times at officers, narrowly missing a sheriff’s deputy, according to State Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong. Officers did not return fire, she said.
Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said that the camp had been cleared by nightfall. Though officials earlier said they planned to turn the site over to private security, Kirchmeier said police would stay.
“We’re not leaving the area,” he said. “We are just going to make sure that we maintain a presence in the area so the roadway stays open, and to keep individuals from camping on private land.”
Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners is working to complete the 1,200-mile pipeline to carry oil from western North Dakota to Illinois. But the route skirts near reservation land of the Standing Rock Sioux, who say it could endanger water supplies and disturb cultural sites, though state officials say no sensitive sites have been found on the route.
The tribe has gone to court to challenge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision granting permits. A federal judge in September denied its request to block construction, but three federal agencies stepped in to order construction to halt on Corps-owned land around Lake Oahe, a wide spot of the Missouri River, while the Corps reviewed its decision-making.
Meanwhile, construction has been allowed to continue on private land owned by the developer, with a goal of completion by the end of the year.
The opposition ratcheted up over the weekend when protesters set up camp on private land owned by Energy Transfer Partners — putting themselves for the first time directly in the project’s path.
The operation to push out the protesters began a day after they had refused to leave voluntarily. Law enforcement repeatedly asked protesters to retreat, at one point using a high-pitched whistle they said was intended to “control and disperse” protesters.
The camp cleared on Thursday is located just to the north of a more permanent and larger encampment on federally owned land which has been the main staging area for hundreds of protesters, including Native Americans from across North America, environmentalists and some celebrities.
Many protesters openly defied the officers, while others took part in prayer circles and burned sage.
Cody Hall, a spokesman for the protesters, vowed a new camp would be built elsewhere in the pipeline’s path, but on federal land.
“It’s going to take a lot to move them (protesters) from there,” he said.
Authorities said protesters set fire to four large pieces of construction equipment. At least two cars were also burned.
Aaron Johnson, 50, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux in South Dakota, said he and other protesters weren’t happy with the day’s outcome. “I came here for peace and prayer,” he said. “When somebody sets something on fire, that’s not peace and prayer.”
The Associated Press contributed to this article
Perhaps the pipe line should be moved to respect the Native land. After all it could be used to build a casino, right? Isn’t everyone born in the USA a native American too? Historians say that American Indians originally came from Asia many thousands of years ago. So they too were immigrants ages ago. I think that American Indians should be respected and any wrongs righted. However, energy is good for all.
Another killery plans to destroy America. And the American Indian
She has done this before in lybia
She got the people to revolt against cadafee in lybia. And funneled guns to them .
And they killed there civil leader. The guns went into the rebellion people. Then Benghazi happen. All because of killery.the pipeline has not even been approve yet. So why are the protesting. It’s away to make trump and the good paying jobs that would come into that depress land. What a criminal minded killery and her devils dogs are
Shame on them
Killary doesn’t do anything to approve or disapprove unless there is major payola in it for her, Bill, or the Clinton Foundation. You can bet your life if she becomes POTUS she will use every federal agency as an extension to her greed and power grabs.
And crimes against humanity and the environment are nothing???
It was not on native American Indian land, it bypassed it and they chose to still block it. Why, not enough payola!
Native People did not come from asia were do you get that uninformed information from . The Clinton’s ?
@ John: Strong proof that American Indians crossed into North America from Asia.
@John: Anthropologists have proven that the origins of American Indians in North America started many thousands of years ago when they crossed from Asia in the area now known as the Bering Straits. Perhaps the wealthy casino chiefs can hire some lawyers in regards to the pipeline. Or do they help their own?
You dont know history.
@Jake: I guess anthropological studies from some of the world’s best colleges must be wrong.
Gee someone forgot to mention about the workers shooting rubber bullets at the Indians and also about the horse that was shot dead a young Indian boy was riding. Also about them not letting newscasters in and not letting them use drones to film what is going on! Also the fact that the farmers don’t want this near their water supply!
Theda:
your comments are true. their is more to this story than the press is letting us to hear. it is very slanted. there is not much water in north Dakota and if what they have is at risk of being polluted,… also, north dakota supplies a large portion of our food in the usa. what happens when this is gone. where does our food come from? shipped in from another country like it is now? I prefer usa food. our government is also putting up for auction national forests so they can be fracked too. the first to go is in Ohio.
I have always believed that the Native Americans are one of the Lost Tribes mentioned in the Bible and I still believe it this day! They look nothing like asians and I know this because I am married to a Miwok. I also live in South Dakota and I know for a fact that the truth is not being told about all of what is going on. Yes they can re route this pipeline! My daughter is half Apache and her significant other is a Nakota! I also know that farmers are headed for Standing Rock as they don’t want this pipeline near the water!
Move the pipeline around the Indian property. The government GAVE them that property and forced them to move there. It’s theirs. If an agreement can be reached, that’s fine. If not, respect their rights! I think they have been disrespected enough by the settlers of this nation…they were here FIRST!.
Maybe they were first in the west. Whites were first in the east. An old Indian told of the Indians coming to the
east and finding a white settlement. They killed the whites and became the “first settlers”.
Then why are they calling it Private Land? There is a big difference.
native Indians owned this whole country form east to west north and south you must still be livin out your grade school history books . That’s an idiotic statement.
Native Indians never “Owned” land. They simply utilized it, certain tribes at certain places.
That IS the problem! This is not Indian owned land. It is not reservation land. It is owned by others and the owners have agreed to the pipeline. The company that is putting in the pipeline also owns some of the property. By law, there are easements and right of ways for infrastructure, which this is. There are already pipelines all over the area, that are in need of repair and replacement to prevent future damage and possible rupture. We have to continue to add to and improve this country’s infrastructure.
They could get Obama to help everybody get together and solve the violence and vandalism. Just look at Chicago Ill. where a lot of this pipeline product will end up being used there. OBAMA and HILARY could make up a new policy. Yes another Executive Illegal Order like dictators do and get some buses and get people in Chicago to go out there and help. You have to admit safety first and Obama can help enforce Hilary on how to break records! All serious get a whole new outlook by getting rid of the Fed. Govt. and let the state put there foot down or they will keep walking all over the good people .
Good one. Funny. But also not so funny right Like they would ever get anything done right! But you made me laugh
Dam indian trouble makers, they should be jailed for burning equipment. Get out of the way of progress.
Let the pipeline go through and after a few years you never know it is there.
The pipe line creates new jobs also. I guess the Indians would rather not work, and just sit in a circle and burn sage. This pipe line can be good for everyone including the Indians.
it is dumb ass comment like that you really don’t understand anything .
Also they claim it about the environment, how much good does those burning tires do for the environment, dam hypocrites.
Floyd – you are so right – they create horrible black pollution – they drive pick up trucks – they care nothing about the danger of rail transport. Pipelines are much safer than rail. They can get their ponies back on the res and maybe plant a crop or hunt some buffalo or whatever it is they are suppose to be doing on their sacred land.
It’s all about the big corporations doing whatever they want to so they can make their billions. who cares who they hurt to do it? and who’s going to do anything about it? Our corrupt government. No because they have bought the government! Who is supposed to protect the treaties put in place to stop this kind of stuff from happening.
How long will it take for the “Native Americans,” to understand, their ancestors lost whatever war it was for the right to this nation. I was born in Texas so that makes me a native American, as much so as any of the stupid people who can’t seem to understand what it means to be a native American. That pipeline means jobs for people, even “Native Americans,” and it doesn’t cross any reservation property so what the hell is their complaint except to try to exhibit authority they do not have? This Native American garbage is just that, garbage. They are no more entitled to special treatment than I am. Get over it and grow up.
I wouldn’t be shocked to find out that Hillary and some Hollywood types instigated this whole affair. Seems like whenever there’s a disruption, there’s a “celebrity” behind it. It gets them the attention they so much need for their ego. They are very sick.
to Rod : DITTO
Well, we all need to calm down. Everything will turn out all right, the CELEBRITIES will be there to insist on their right to have opinions, and to suck up all the TV and Socal Media time. Never fear, Hollywood will be there. The celebrities’ opinions are SO important… for some reason.
Larry and Floyd:
there are oil pipeline leaks in the usa every day. you don’t hear about them. its a hidden fact from the common people. and are you willing to pay 5.00 for a gallon of water? right now it costs anywhere from 1- 2 dollars for a gallon of water. the price will go up. the water coming from our tap is so polluted with drugs, fecal matter, and pharmaceuticals…
I’m with the Indians on this one. Just move the pipeline and go around the property they own. Our Government too should honor the Indians rights.
people around the world are backing up the Native Americans. and its not just 100’s of people. but 1,000’s from all walks of life everywhere. A group from Black lives matters came & showed there support. 1,000’s and 1,000’s are showing support for the Native Americans.
JCA
You grow up and get your head out of the sand. what happens when all of our water in the usa is polluted and unfit for drinking. there are oil pipeline leaks in the usa on a daily basis. are you willing to pay 5.00 for a gallon of water. we now pay 1-2 dollars for a gallon. the water coming out of the tap is unfit for consumption or bathing. full of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, fecal matter. Flint Michigan pays a very high price for water they cannot even consume. there are other cities in the same situation.
Ann, are you saying that if the pipeline goes around the Reservation there will be no leaks? Or that there should be no pipelines of any kind at all? Are you suggesting no one should be allowed to work and make a living doing anything that has to do with pipelines or oil or gas? Are you willing to pay the bills of at least one family of 4 to keep our water clean? I think it is you whose head is in the sand. You cannot deny people the right to work and make a living. (I have a filter on my drinking water tap)
there are oil leaks from pipelines in the usa on a daily basis. our water needs to be protected. I do not want to pay 5.00 for a gallon of water. we now pay 1-2 for a gallon.
The Native Americans have a legitimate concern for he safety of heir water supply. The pipeline can go somewhere else and everyone knows that. I am a firm believer that pipelines are the safest way to transport oil to refineries. But common sense needs to prevail over demand for plowing though the Native American people’s water source just to be even safer for them. I see some idiots have posted here in support of government intrusion on people who were forced to live where they do. That is disgusting.
Jerry, no one is forced to live anywhere.
These people have better things to do than that. We need the oil pipe line. These environmentalist who want wind power turbines to run in this country must realize we need oil to run those wind turbines. Environmentalist should work on getting prostitution legalized in all 50 states it environmentalist want to raise money to support clean and renewable energy. All of those women who were protesting at that site must be prostitutes. These women should go and get a job. Hillary Clinton was a prostitute while she was in college. That is how she made her money in the first place. These screw balls don’t need to block the progress of building the pipe line. They are better off using hate speech near the site advocating for legalize prostitution in all 50 states. These protesters must have been putting Vaseline on their genitals all of the time because they are prostitutes. They are so dumb and stupid not to realize that Vaseline is made out of crude oil.
If only a few can see this is so politically motivated; there is little hope for us being free of communism in the future!
The “left” is hoping for a “qualifying event” to divert attention away from potential wiki leaks harm to Clinton. She and others want to try and somehow shame whites, divide our country by race and claim we whites are the devil; but of course many of us do not suffer from “guilty white guy syndrome” and are proud we had the skills to advance the cause for all races!
So “lefties” please stick your phony peace pipe where appropriate!
Just another result stemming from the most divisive administration in over 200 years.
Yaw keeping talking against the Indians and remember what u have said. The day will come when u will be walking in their shoes . U will remember , and u will feel their pain , and u will be so ashamed of what u have said . U know nothing about how they feel , u have no respect for anyone r any thing , but , the day will come when u will know and then u will drop ur head in shame ,
Police showed a lot of restraint when that emotionally charged woman shot at them. She is lucky they did not shoot back at her cuz she would be dead. So much for a peaceful demonstration. It seems they are protesting with their emotions not with informed understanding as to how deep that pipe will be burried.
I would think a pipeline would be more environmentally friendly than having fuel trucks or trains hauling large quantities of fuel over the nation’s roads and railways.
our government took most all of America from the Indians and gave them reservations in shitty areas and now they want to have control of what little they have just for big corps to make big money THE CORE OF ENGINEERS COULD NOT CONSTRUCT A LIVABLE BUILDING I believe most of them could not make it the real world
The Indians are being used by the liberal left wing loons. This is a project that is vitally impotent to the nation for energy independence. Arrest all the Indian thugs and allow them to complete the pipe line, NOW!!!!!!