Over the past few months, a group of protesters has been occupying a camp near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota in opposition of the Dakota Access pipeline. The pipeline, currently under construction, would carry 470,000 barrels of crude oil per day from North Dakota to Illinois. Opponents to the pipeline argue that it will cause significant environmental damage, as well as destroy many sacred Native American sites.
The protests over the pipeline have been going on for months, but are just now receiving more media attention as both police and protesters claim the other are using increasingly aggressive tactics. Standing Rock Chairman Paul Archambault has accused the police of abusing their authority, saying, “The intimidation by militarized police in riot gear and unlawful arrests are an attack on the First Amendment rights of the protectors, and we again ask the Department of Justice to send observers to the area to ensure that constitutional rights are protected.” He added, “Police are also routinely strip searching protesters, even when they have only been charged with a misdemeanor offense.”
Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier disagrees, and has called the protests, “…not peaceful or lawful.” He said, “This protest was intentionally coordinated and planned by agitators with the specific intent to engage in illegal activities.” Authorities say that the protesters are trespassing on pipeline property, and have been attaching themselves to vehicles and construction equipment to avoid being removed from the area.
Thousands have taken to social media to voice their support for the protestors, such as using Facebook to check in at Standing Rock, a feature that police were allegedly using to track protesters. As of Monday afternoon, more than 600,000 people had checked in at Standing Rock. The protest has become about more than the environment now, as protesters accuse authorities of abusing their power, and native Standing Rock Sioux feel they are being exploited by the government.