A Dakota Access spokeswoman said this week that the company has “temporarily deferred grading activities” across a short section of the right of way near the North Dakota protest site while “law enforcement works to contain the unlawful protests”.
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The roughly halfway-finished pipeline is the subject of a federal court challenge from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, and numerous protests. Authorities should make every effort to defend the right to peaceful assembly rather than escalate this situation or react with fear and intimidation. After passing through South Dakota and Iowa, the DAPL would continue to IL, where it would transfer its load to another almost completed line carrying the hazardous material to the Gulf of Mexico refineries and export facilities in Texas.
Indeed, many marchers were from the campsite, including 25-year-old Kin-sin-ta Joseph and her 16-year-old sister Kis-dya:n-te’ Joseph, who got help from a portable PA system so their river song would carry over the wind and traffic noise. In the meantime, they’ve agreed to stop construction in the North Dakota area until the court rules next month. “Industrial interests have damaged Indian lands and left tribes with the legacy of cleaning up”, Vice President Jonatan Nez said in the statement.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg listened to arguments Wednesday in Washington, D.C. He says he will rule on the case by September 9.
Generations of native Americans, both young and old, took turns sharing personal accounts of why halting the pipeline was important to them as crowd broke into battle cries and pounded tribal drums.
Meanwhile a lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union of North Dakota will represent one of the pipeline protesters being sued by Dakota Access LLC. “… We will be heard because we are one, not one as a tribal nation but one as Native people”.
Jon Eagle Sr., tribal historic preservation officer for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, writes in a court affidavit that he’s charged with protecting cultural resources and sacred sites within the aboriginal homelands of the tribe. The company says the protestors allegedly threw rocks and bottles at their workers and reports of gunshots were heard.
Other participants in Dakota Access include Sunoco Logistics Partners and Phillips 66.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has filed a lawsuit in federal court to block the Army Corps of Engineers from building an oil pipeline under their reservation.
When asked what will happen if the judge denies the injunction and Dakota Access tries to resume construction, Camp said, “Then we’ll start blockading”.
Actresses Susan Sarandon and Shailene Woodley were there, too.
Gov. Jack Dalrymple earlier declared a state of emergency because of the protests.
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The board issued an order Wednesday requiring Dakota Access to provide detailed information about the progress of construction in Iowa and the cost the company will incur if it is required to work around the parcels.
