Tension flared anew on the Dakota Access pipeline as protesters tried to push past a long-blocked bridge on a state highway, only to be turned back by a line of law enforcement using water cannon and what appeared to be tear gas.
Sunday’s skirmishes began around 6 p.m. after protesters removed a burned-out truck on what’s known as the Backwater Bridge, not far from the encampment where they’ve been for weeks as they demonstrate against the pipeline. The Morton County Sheriff’s Department estimated 400 protesters sought to cross the bridge on state Highway 1806.
A live stream early Monday showed a continued standoff, with large lights illuminating smoke wafting across the scene.
The sheriff’s department said in a statement around 1 a.m. Monday that approximately 100 to 200 protesters were on the bridge or in the vicinity. It said law enforcement officers “had rocks thrown at them, burning logs and rocks shot from slingshots,” and that one officer had been hit on the head by a thrown rock.
At least one person was arrested. Protesters said a gym in Cannon Ball was opened to aid demonstrators who were soaked on a night the temperature dipped into the low 20s or were hit with tear gas.
Rema Loeb told The Associated Press he was forced to retreat from the bridge because he feared being doused with water on the freezing night. Others, he said, needed medical treatment after being hit with tear gas.
“It’s been just horrible,” said the 83-year-old Loeb, who traveled from Massachusetts about two weeks ago to join the protests.
The 1,200-mile, four-state pipeline is being built to carry oil from western North Dakota to a shipping point in Illinois. But construction of the $3.8 billion pipeline has been protested for months by the Standing Rock Sioux, whose reservation lies near the pipeline route, and the tribe’s allies, who fear a leak could contaminate their drinking water. They also worry that construction could threaten sacred sites.
Energy Transfer Partners has said no sites have been disturbed and that the pipeline will have safeguards against leaks, and is a safer method of transport for oil than rail or truck. The company has said the pipelineis largely complete except for the section under Lake Oahe.
The bridge lies near where protesters had set up camp on private property owned by the pipeline developer, Energy Transfer Partners, before they were forcibly removed by law enforcement Oct. 27. It’s also about a mile from an uncompleted section under Lake Oahe, a Missouri River reservoir, where work has been on hold by order of federal agencies.
Tara Houska, an organizer with Honor the Earth, told the Bismarck Tribune that the Cannon Ball gym was opened to aid people who had been doused with water or tear gas.
Phone calls to the sheriff’s department late Sunday went to an answering machine.
On Friday, Kelcy Warren, the chief executive of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, said the company is unwilling to reroute the pipeline.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
I think it is rediculas that they are trying to keep the pipeline from going Thur, Its not on there land. Are you sure Soro is not the head of this?
Who do you think were here first… the Native American or the white man? If there is an oil spill… and there is a good possibility that the pipeline will be sabotaged by ISIS or like terrorists… their water supply will be contaminated…something that the oil companies could care less about…. running a pipeline under a lake? Nice that everyone knows about that as well… makes for a better terrorist target. One thing that we all need is clean water… a perfect target for terrorists.
There are already thousands of pipelines in US. Occasionally there is a leak, but insurance funds handle this. Native people also benefit from the availability of oil/natural gas. You didn’t all walk, ride bicycles, or ride horseback to the protest site. You came in cars and busses.
291 oil leaks in N Dakota in 2 years is more than a few and hiding them is even worse.
It is on their land, and their burial sites. Would you want a pipeline going thru the cemetery where the remains of your family lie? And PS ask someone to enable spell check on your computer or whatever device you use. A properly spelled comment gets more respect.
Why must you fools at the HORN give these eco-terrorists more coverage than they deserve. Why must you print their LIES?? If this bias against the legal pipe line continues I will drop your like a hot potato!!!!
Bye bye ratbite
Remember the old saying, When your up to your ass in alligators, It’s hard to remind yourself that your initial objective was to drain the swamp. The pipeline people are at fault for not requiring what was needed before starting the pipeline. The right of way, where it would run, And tell, in detail what they planed to do, and secure an agreement with the people involved.
Henry Ford once fired one of his big wigs during a dinner for salting his food before he had tasted it. He said he didn’t need someone working for him that jumped to conclusions. The food could have been salty enough already. Someone working for the pipeline must have jumped to conclusions that they could just get the right of way before they got to this point. Big money doesn’t always win out.
Lots of misinformation out there. It is NOT on native American land nor going through any cemetaries. It is designed for earthquakes and sectioned so that small segments can be closed off remotely before any is spilled. It is immensely more important to have this pipeline than for us to be embroiled in bringing over oil from war torn areas of the world at much higher carbon cost. Environmentally responsible people will want us to be energy independent.
First off Max, ratbite and Doris, THIS WHOLE COUNTRY is their land!!!! You need to learn some real American history. You need to listen to what Russell Means American Indian Activist told the congress/senate back in 1989. Since this country was “founded” by white men, all the discrimination, the mass murders, disease warfare (small pox), etc. that has actually happened to the people that were here far before the white men has been hidden by the US Government. If the Native American History was taught in the schools like the African Black History is taught you would know how bad the Indians have been treated. Sacred burial grounds are the Native Americans – white mans cemeteries and that is one thing this pipeline construction is doing is keeping the Native Americans from visiting their ancestors. The beliefs of American Natives are extremely strong, stronger than your beliefs evidently or you might would understand.
I can about bet tall 3 of you are liberals and really all you care about is yourself. Your way is the only way. BS
Educate your ignorant selves. Hello – in the southeastern US we have had 2 pipeline disastors since August. One has been leaking for who knows how long – HELLO – shouldn’t somebody be monitoring this????? Same pipeline – they tried to repair and a big backhoe hit it causing a tremendous explosion killing several people. Get your heads out of the sand, and find out what is really going on before you start spulting your ignorance!!!