Share

Jill Stein Vandalizes Private Property While Protesters Harm Guard Dogs

Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier of Morton County, North Dakota, told a local CNN affiliate that he plans to seek vandalism charges against the Green Party presidential nominee, who spray-painted the blade of a bulldozer on Tuesday as part of a protest against the construction of an oil pipeline through sacred tribal lands.

Advertisement

North Dakota’s arrest warrant for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein is the second misstep the candidate’s campaign has had to deal with in the past week.

The Morton County State’s Attorney’s Office filed criminal complaints against Stein and running mate Ajamu Baraka for criminal trespass and criminal mischief. The Tribune reported that Baraka spray painted “decolonization” on equipment.

In the affidavit, it was reported that there was “considerable” damage to equipment.

Protesters, who say the project will damage burial sites considered sacred to a nearby Native American tribe and pollute the area’s drinking water, also attached themselves to bulldozers and broke a fence, the department said.

Protests at a pipeline construction site began weeks ago.

According to a website run by natural gas and propane company Energy Transfer, the Dakota Access Pipeline is a 1,172-mile pipeline project that will connect oilfields in the Bakken area of Montana and North Dakota to IL. He said that around 25 law enforcement officials arrived to the protest site and found people on horses, wearing masks and goggles and carrying hatchets.

A federal judge approved a temporary halt on construction on some of the pipeline, according to ABC News. The two guard dogs were taken to a Bismarck veterinary clinic, Preskey said. They claimed there were no reports of protester injuries.

According to KGW.com, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe “has sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers arguing that the agency acted illegally by taking a “narrow view” of its responsibilities before approving the pipeline”.

Advertisement

Dr. Jill Stein was one of several people arrested in 2012 during the protests in Wood County over the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

Donna Allard Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein second from right participates in an oil pipeline protest Tuesday Sept. 6 2016 in Morton County N.D. North Dakota authorities plan to pursue charges against Gree