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| North Dakota pipeline protesters pushed back from site after 117 arrested | |
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| Law enforcement arrested 117 people in North Dakota after police surrounded protesters, deploying pepper spray and armored vehicles in order to clear hundreds of Native American activists and supporters from land owned by an oil pipeline company. | |
| The move marked the beginning of an aggressive new phase in ongoing police efforts to thwart a months-long demonstration by hundreds of members of more than 90 Native American tribes to prevent the construction of the controversial Dakota Access pipeline, which they say would threaten the regional water supply and destroy sacred sites. | The move marked the beginning of an aggressive new phase in ongoing police efforts to thwart a months-long demonstration by hundreds of members of more than 90 Native American tribes to prevent the construction of the controversial Dakota Access pipeline, which they say would threaten the regional water supply and destroy sacred sites. |
| Clashes between Morton County law enforcement and protesters escalated on Thursday during a tense all-day standoff, as police pushed protesters off the private land where the pipeline is slated for construction, forcing activists to retreat back to the camps that have sprung up since the protest began in April. | Clashes between Morton County law enforcement and protesters escalated on Thursday during a tense all-day standoff, as police pushed protesters off the private land where the pipeline is slated for construction, forcing activists to retreat back to the camps that have sprung up since the protest began in April. |
| Activists vowed to continue fighting the project after the arrests. More activists were in custody but had yet to be processed, Morton County sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said in a press conference. | |
| Officials claimed that activists lit pipeline equipment on fire, and set up illegal and dangerous roadblocks, forcing police to close in on the demonstration, deploy pepper spray and arrest activists who failed to comply with orders. | Officials claimed that activists lit pipeline equipment on fire, and set up illegal and dangerous roadblocks, forcing police to close in on the demonstration, deploy pepper spray and arrest activists who failed to comply with orders. |
| However, Rose Stiffarm, a cinematographer and member of six Native American nations including the Chippewa Cree, told the Guardian that the police response on Thursday was unnecessarily harsh. “The government is attacking us for protesting, for protecting the water.” | However, Rose Stiffarm, a cinematographer and member of six Native American nations including the Chippewa Cree, told the Guardian that the police response on Thursday was unnecessarily harsh. “The government is attacking us for protesting, for protecting the water.” |
| She said police were deploying tear gas – something Kirchmeier denied – and said they were “targeting press”. | She said police were deploying tear gas – something Kirchmeier denied – and said they were “targeting press”. |
| “We are innocent people – women, children and elders,” she said. | “We are innocent people – women, children and elders,” she said. |
| Dean Dedman Jr, a member of the Standing Rock Hunkpapa tribe from South Dakota, told the Guardian: “Everybody is still standing strong. We are still holding the lands.” | Dean Dedman Jr, a member of the Standing Rock Hunkpapa tribe from South Dakota, told the Guardian: “Everybody is still standing strong. We are still holding the lands.” |
| Dedman, who has been camped out for months, frequently shooting footage of the protests with his drone, said protesters would not back down even in the face of hundreds of armed police officers. “We’re all just trying to keep the prayer and keep the singing.” | Dedman, who has been camped out for months, frequently shooting footage of the protests with his drone, said protesters would not back down even in the face of hundreds of armed police officers. “We’re all just trying to keep the prayer and keep the singing.” |
| The confrontations marked the most intense conflict to date at the protest, which has become a flashpoint across the US for Native American rights and climate change activism. The events unfolded days after the Morton County sheriff’s office arrested 127 people in a major sweep, including journalists and film-makers. | The confrontations marked the most intense conflict to date at the protest, which has become a flashpoint across the US for Native American rights and climate change activism. The events unfolded days after the Morton County sheriff’s office arrested 127 people in a major sweep, including journalists and film-makers. |
| Police have made more than 260 arrests since the demonstrations ramped up in August, and prosecutors have filed a range of charges, including criminal trespassing, participating in a riot and resisting arrest. | Police have made more than 260 arrests since the demonstrations ramped up in August, and prosecutors have filed a range of charges, including criminal trespassing, participating in a riot and resisting arrest. |
| The first round of mass arrests came after a local judge rejected controversial riot charges against Amy Goodman, a well-known broadcast journalist and host of Democracy Now! who earned widespread support from free speech advocates after authorities issued a warrant for her arrest. | The first round of mass arrests came after a local judge rejected controversial riot charges against Amy Goodman, a well-known broadcast journalist and host of Democracy Now! who earned widespread support from free speech advocates after authorities issued a warrant for her arrest. |
| Actor Shailene Woodley was also previously arrested at the protests, and celebrity Mark Ruffalo and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson made headlines when they traveled to the pipeline standoff this week and publicly criticized police tactics. | Actor Shailene Woodley was also previously arrested at the protests, and celebrity Mark Ruffalo and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson made headlines when they traveled to the pipeline standoff this week and publicly criticized police tactics. |
| The Standing Rock tribe and a diverse group of Native American groups have been fighting to block the $3.7bn oil pipeline, which is operated by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners and on track to transport fracked crude from the Bakken oil field in North Dakota to a refinery near Chicago. | The Standing Rock tribe and a diverse group of Native American groups have been fighting to block the $3.7bn oil pipeline, which is operated by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners and on track to transport fracked crude from the Bakken oil field in North Dakota to a refinery near Chicago. |
| It was recently revealed that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has close ties to the pipeline company. On Thursday, a group of Standing Rock youth also traveled to New York City to the campaign headquarters of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to urge her to support the tribe. | It was recently revealed that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has close ties to the pipeline company. On Thursday, a group of Standing Rock youth also traveled to New York City to the campaign headquarters of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to urge her to support the tribe. |
| The protests began in April when members of the Standing Rock Lakota and other nations took to horseback to ride to the river’s edge and set up a “spiritual camp”, named Sacred Stone, where activists returned on Thursday. | The protests began in April when members of the Standing Rock Lakota and other nations took to horseback to ride to the river’s edge and set up a “spiritual camp”, named Sacred Stone, where activists returned on Thursday. |
| Cecily Fong, spokeswoman for the state department of emergency services, told the Guardian that the pipeline operator would be in charge of securing the site once law enforcement successfully removed activists. “Our intent from the beginning here is that no one gets seriously hurt. We’ve shown a lot of patience and discretion.” | Cecily Fong, spokeswoman for the state department of emergency services, told the Guardian that the pipeline operator would be in charge of securing the site once law enforcement successfully removed activists. “Our intent from the beginning here is that no one gets seriously hurt. We’ve shown a lot of patience and discretion.” |
| The security response of the pipeline company, however, has proven to be controversial. On Wednesday, the Morton County sheriff’s office revealed that some private guards were not properly licensed when they deployed dogs on unarmed activists. | The security response of the pipeline company, however, has proven to be controversial. On Wednesday, the Morton County sheriff’s office revealed that some private guards were not properly licensed when they deployed dogs on unarmed activists. |
| In a hastily planned press briefing, Kirchmeier told reporters that police were planning to remain in place “as long as it takes” to keep protesters off the pipeline’s land. Fong also claimed that protesters set fire to multiple pipeline excavators. | In a hastily planned press briefing, Kirchmeier told reporters that police were planning to remain in place “as long as it takes” to keep protesters off the pipeline’s land. Fong also claimed that protesters set fire to multiple pipeline excavators. |
| Activists have also tried to fight the project in court, but in September, a judge denied an attempt by tribal leaders to challenge the legitimacy of the pipe’s construction permits. The federal government, however, announced last month that it would reassess initial approvals and delay permits. | Activists have also tried to fight the project in court, but in September, a judge denied an attempt by tribal leaders to challenge the legitimacy of the pipe’s construction permits. The federal government, however, announced last month that it would reassess initial approvals and delay permits. |
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