If you’ve opened up your Facebook the past few days, there’s a good chance you saw at least a few of your friends check in at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. No, you aren’t missing some massive group trip; there’s a high likelihood that no one you know is actually there.
Image via: http://nativenewsonline.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/protest-friday-60…
Somehow, the entire world heard the story of the Morton County Sheriff’s Department using Facebook “check-ins” to keep track of and make arrests—and that if Facebook users everywhere were to check in, then the real protestors would be hidden in the sea of posts. It’s the age-old “I am Spartacus” idea.
The thing is, the Sheriff’s Department released a statement that said in no way are they doing that. The Sacred Stone Camp Protesters stated that there “is no doubt that law enforcement comb social media for incriminating material and monitor communications”, but never specifically mentioned the use of check-ins. There is no evidence that this is going on, or that having false check-ins would even help.
No protest group–or other individual for that matter–has yet to take credit for the trend, and it seems that no one knows anything about where the concept came from.
However, whether or not the users of Facebook are actually hiding the pipeline protesters, they are still helping them.
By checking in at Standing Rock, people are showing their support for the protest. Even if people can’t actually get to Standing Rock, checking in displays their metaphorical presence. Essentially, they are saying that they may not physically be at the location, but their hearts and convictions are. By saying “I am at Standing Rock”, people are telling the protesters that they are with them in solidarity.
The Sacred Stone Camp said that while “We do think the check-ins meaningfully aid us…this check-in has created a huge influx of media attention that we appreciate. There is a massive social media following, which plays a key role in this struggle”.
Image via: http://www.motherjones.com/files/imagecache/top-of-content-image/standin…
The Standing Rock Sioux and supporters have been protesting against Energy Partner Transfers for months as the company attempt to build a pipeline that would potentially harm the reservations drinking water as well as desecrate sacred indian burial grounds. The tribe’s recent loss of the appeal has rekindled the fire under the protesters’ feet.
Standing Rock Sioux tribe Chairman Dave Archambault II recently sent a letter to the Attorney General expressing his concerns over the potential violence escalation.
Archambault, fearing for everyone’s safety, asks for “everybody to remain prayerful and peaceful and not to react to any form of aggression that law enforcement brings”.
His concern is not only for his own people, but for every life there: “We don’t want to see the construction workers get hurt, we don’t want to see law enforcement get hurt and we definitely don’t want to see people who are standing up to protect water to get hurt.”
In tense situations such as this, we need leaders like Archambault who are going to put everyone’s well-being and the importance of peaceful protest first. The Facebook check-ins are one non-violent form to express support for the Sioux.
Having fewer people physically present decreases the chances of massive violent outbreaks and injury. As part of his letter, Archambault claimed that the state is militarizing the reservation. This militarization stems from the large groups of protesters who are in the area, and the potential for violence between local law officials, construction workers, and protesters.
Bringing the fight to Facebook may seem trivial, but it is helping to gather attention and support for the issue while, at least in part, moving the fight away from the reservation.
So who cares if you’re not actually diverting police attention away from protesters? If you support the beliefs of the Pipeline protesters, then show them you are there in spirit and check in.
Image via: http://boston.carpediem.cd/data/afisha/o/e1/fe/e1fe0671ec.jpg
Sources:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/10/standing-rock-facebook-dakota-access-pipeline-protest