In case you haven’t noticed because you’ve either been living under a rock or watching ONLY the mainstream media, North Dakota is beginning to look like Mad Max: Fury Road. In recent days water protectors (those fighting against the Dakota Access Pipeline) have begun erecting barricades on the roads in order to stop the destruction of their sacred lands by a massive oil company, funded by big banks. The North Dakota authorities – who have sworn an oath to protect oil pipelines and not human beings (apparently?) – have responded by continuing to attack, pepper spray, restrain, and arrest the unarmed water protectors, which include women, children, and elderly. Police have arrested over 120 people in recent days. Teachers from nearby schools are now bringing their students out in order to show them what a police state looks like. …I made that last sentence up… The sheriff and other authorities continue to try to portray the protectors as dangerous and riotous – but every video I’ve seen has shown only peaceful protesters. In order to cover up the fact that the truth is not on their side, authorities have actively targeted journalists, arresting several including Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman. (They ultimately dropped the charges because the judge found them ridiculous).
And while Standing Rock turns into a war zone – a very one-sided war zone – there has been little to no mention of it from the two corporate presidential candidates. Of course Green Party candidate Jill Stein has talked extensively about it and even went to North Dakota to stand with the protesters. There is now a warrant out for her arrest as well.
I’ve covered the Standing Rock protests multiple times on Redacted Tonight. I also interviewed Chase Iron Eyes, who both lives on the reservation and is running for Congress.
We have to keep talking about this and getting the word out because it is clear that the militarized police in North Dakota are doing everything they can to shut down this story – including but not limited to arresting journalists and citizen journalists alike.
Keep Fighting,
Lee
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