People opposed to the $3.7 billion project held a rally and march in Denver Thursday night.
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The Morton County Sheriff’s Office arrested 22 people at a Dakota Access construction site more than 80 miles northwest from the main protest site, including two people who bound themselves to equipment.
Hundreds showed up in Tahlequah to show their support for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, there was even a banner that is going to be heading to North Dakota.
Kelcy Warren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer said, “We intend to meet with officials in Washington to understand [the government’s] position and reiterate our commitment to bring the Dakota Access Pipeline into operation”.
The rally came days after the administration said it would halt construction on the project while it decides whether to conduct new environmental tests.
“At first it was like just getting wrapped up in it, should I step over and trespass, but I mean they can’t arrest 2,000 people”, she said.
“Remind them that the company fully complied with the regulatory process and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a nationwide permit and other essential permits for our work”, Warren wrote. Organizers said they hope to call attention to the courageous water and land protectors at Standing Rock.
The memo does not say whether the company plans to voluntarily halt construction in North Dakota 20 miles east and west of Lake Oahe, as requested by the federal agencies.
When they heard about what was happening in North Dakota, she said they had to go out and help the people there make their voices heard.
“If there is one profound lesson that the Native American people have taught us is that all of us as human beings are a part of Nature and our species as human beings will not survive if we continue to destroy nature”, he said. The speakers encouraged President Barack Obama, who visited the reservation in 2014, to back their cause.
Warren said the company had consulted with more than 55 tribes, including the Standing Rock Sioux, and added that ETP values and respects “cultural diversity and the significant role that Native American culture plays in our nation’s history and its future and hope to be able to strengthen our relationship with the Native American communities as we move forward with this project”.
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“We have designed the state-of-the-art Dakota Access pipeline as a safer and more efficient method of transporting crude oil than the alternatives being used today, namely rail and truck”, he said.
