Protests turned violent over the weekend, with some demonstrators breaking down a wire fence and trespassing onto a construction site, the Morton County Sheriff’s Department said.
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Authorities in North Dakota are investigating possible charges against U.S. Green Party presidential candidate for allegedly damaging equipment during protests on Tuesday over construction of an oil pipeline in the state.
Stein can be seen on local media outlet video Tuesday shaking a can before spraying something onto the front blade of the bulldozer at a construction site in St. Anthony, North Dakota.
Stein’s stand was not the first in her protest of environmental issues, including one instance that landed her behind bars in East Texas. According to the authorities, the plucky politician trespassed onto a construction site and spray painted “I approve this message” on equipment as part of a 200-person-strong action to protect what’s left of Native American lands and traditions.
Stein has a history of environmental activism, and during her presidential run in 2012, was arrested outside a debate to which she was not invited.
If completed, the 1,172-mile pipeline would carry 470,000 barrels of crude oil a day from North Dakota to IL.
The pipeline company, Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, said it would not comment regarding who is providing the private security detail, which has been in place since last month, or what they’ve been told to do when facing protesters.
“The incident is actually still ongoing as we speak”, Kirchmeier said Tuesday afternoon.
“I felt like it was the least I could do in front of these Indian leaders, as they were putting their lives and their bodies on the line”, Stein said.
Officials should keep their eye on the real criminals, here, and stop playing politics with their legal powers.
As well as damage to sacred sites, protesters are also concerned that the $3.8 billion pipeline could affect the drinking water of the nearby Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Reservation, according to NPR. Protests over the pipeline have reportedly turned violent, with security guards reported injured. “Will they charge the oil company that bulldozed the sacred burial grounds of the Standing Rock Sioux?”
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Stein has publicly opposed the pipeline in the past and Tuesday tweeted that the issue represents a “human-rights crisis”.
