In the video, security forces can be seen pushing the dogs to charge at protesters, while others raise cans of pepper spray at the crowds.
Advertisement
Standing Rock Sioux Chairman Dave Archambault II is among some 30 people that have been arrested in recent weeks for interfering with the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline in southern North Dakota.
“This demolition is devastating”, Archambault said. “These grounds are the resting place of our ancestors”. The desecration of these ancient places has already caused the Standing Rock Sioux irreparable harm.
Videos show some protesters were injured while the sheriff said four private security officers and two dogs were hurt.
A woman on scene reported six people were bit by dogs and 12 people had to be treated for pepper-spray.
Over 500 protestors reportedly entered the site. No arrests were made, Preskey said.
On Friday, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe submitted documents in court, identifying areas along the path of the pipeline that are home to Native American artifacts and sacred sites.
The incident was filmed from a helicopter operated by Energy Transfer Partners, the company contracted to build the pipeline.
Last week, environmental groups petitioned President Barack Obama to deny permits to the construction pipe, and to revoke the standing permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. The oil pipeline is scheduled to next “run under the Missouri river”. The tribe planned to use the archaeological information to amend its court filings and to file a report with the North Dakota State Historic Preservation Office.
A federal judge is expected to rule by September 9 whether construction on the pipeline must be stopped. As a result of the violence that broke out on Saturday, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman Harold Frazier “is urging members to avoid Bismarck and Mandan in North Dakota”. Native Americans living in the region are concerned that the project would contaminate drinking water for thousands of tribal members and millions more downstream.
Police said several people were assaulted with fence posts and flag poles, including private security officers hired by Dakota Access pipeline. He continued by saying that numerous witnesses had said the crowd of a few hundred protesters became violent within about five minutes.
“Any suggestion that today’s event was a peaceful protest is false”, said Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier.
Advertisement
ORIGINAL: The Morton County Sheriff’s Department says hundreds of Dakota Access Oil Pipeline protesters turned violent.
