Is anyone here at DU paying any attention to Standing Rock and

[7wo7rees]

Last edited Thu Nov 24, 2016, 01:30 AM - Edit history (2)

what is happening in North Dakota.
I've been through Latest and Greatest Threads and there is nothing

http://taskandpurpose.com/where-evil-resides-veterans-deploy-to-standing-rock-to-engage-the-enemy-the-us-government/

Anyone here talking about what happened Sunday night?
Anyone here discussing Sophia, the 21 year old from New York who had most of her left arm blown off by a concussion grenade?

Where are DU'ers?

https://www.google.com/amp/denver.cbslocal.com/2016/11/21/colorado-dakota-access-pipeline-joe-salazar/amp

snip:

"It's 10 degrees outside and they’re spraying people down with water,” said Rep. Joe Salazar, D-Thornton.

After watching the standoff in North Dakota unfold for months, Salazar says he can no longer stand by.

snip:
As an elected official, as a leader in the community, I want to make assessments for myself of what’s going on,” Salazar said.

As a civil rights attorney, Salazar says he’s troubled by what he calls human rights violations by law enforcement and has been in contact with the White House urging the president to intervene.

“The government can do something about this,” Salazar said. “I reject premise that anyone says the government can’t do anything about it.

snip:
Salazar managed to kill legislation that would have allowed eminent domain rights for oil pipeline companies in Colorado. But he admits President-Elect Donald Trump will likely decide the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Salazar leaves Wednesday and will meet with tribal leaders and the Department of Justice.

[pinboy3niner]

1. GD: Dakota Access pipeline protestor hit by concussion grenade

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028296711

[7wo7rees]

6. Yes, on Tues, 6 recs and 6 comments. Impressive. nt

[pinboy3niner]

2. Last news I saw was about veterans heading to Standing Rock to protest

Veterans ‘Deploy’ To Standing Rock To Engage The Enemy — The US Government
http://miniplanet.us/veterans-deploy-to-standing-rock-to-engage-the-enemy-the-us-government/

And this afternoon I received this email blast from Iraq Veterans Against the War:

We Are En Route to Standing Rock - Take Action With Us!

As I type this, I am riding in a truck loaded with heaters, a large military tent, and food headed to the main camp at Standing Rock. I am joining more than a dozen fellow members out there (with more on the way) who will take part in the week of action as we help winterize the camp, support our allies with Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, and bring our collective skills sets from the military to support the indigenous-led resistance.

Last week, we told you about the action six of our members took in NYC to kick off our efforts in solidarity with the water protectors at Standing Rock. We walked into the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) office and delivered a letter to Regional Deputy Director Larry Mazola, calling on the ACE to stand down and for an end to the Dakota Access Pipeline. As we talked to the ACE representative, we were surprised to hear him make it clear, on camera, that the resistance is winning:

“You've made yourself heard. The Corps of Engineers is re-looking at this. So just by your stand, we're going to go back and take a look and make sure we're doing the right things. And that is directly a result of what you guys are all doing.”

We knew that the U.S. military and ACE have a long history of undermining Indigenous sovereignty and outright robbing Native peoples of their land, and that this was a moment when we could show that veterans were not going to stand by idly and have it happen again. As NYC IVAW member Nicole Goodwin told Gothamist:

“It is especially important for veterans and service members to stand with Standing Rock because we have the responsibility to rectify the US military's history of occupation. We went to the Army Corps today to tell them to deny permits for DAPL, to tell them that we are watching their moves, and that the core values of this country are in danger unless they act."

Last night members of our Colorado chapter who are at Standing Rock went to the the Morton County Commission in Bismarck to represent our anger at the dangerous violence leveled at the water protectors on Sunday night, including water cannons and tear gas in freezing temperatures. After the commission meeting, IVAW Board Member and Unitarian Minister Shawna Foster asked the commission members to pray for water protector Sofia Wilansky who was grievously injured. We told them it was high past time for the resignation of Sheriff Kirchmeier who is leading a militarized police force against peaceful protectors.




Despite the media blackout and the state violence and surveillance wielded against water protectors, this fight is reaching a critical mass. We hope that as you spend time this holiday weekend that you also do what you can to take action in support of this critical work, whether that is to donate to the main camp Oceti Sakowin or to dial up the pressure on the local Sheriff Department. If you've got a moment, contact the Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier and let him know that water protectors have the right to participate in peaceful protest without being met by a militarized police force more interested in protecting corporate interests than the people of North Dakota:


Morton County Sheriff
Kyle Kirchmeier

205 1st Ave NW
Mandan, ND 58554

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

https://www.facebook.com/MortonCountySD/



Thanks for your support in these tough moments and for standing on the right side of a critical fight. Your action will make a difference in the work ahead.

In Solidarity,

Matt Howard
Co-Director
Iraq Veterans Against the War

[Qanisqineq]

3. Here is a Facebook group with all the latest news

https://www.facebook.com/StandingRockDakotaAccessPipelineOpposition/

I live just 30 miles away but don't watch local news as it is too biased. My husband works at the federal building in Bismarck and sees a lot of the in-town protests.

[7wo7rees]

4. So I ask humbly, what are your positions? Your husband works at the Fed

Bldg in Bismark doing what? Rather vague...

Local news is too biased.....

So, ....
Is it ok for this critical piece of road being blocked since the end of October okay?
Refusal to remove to burnt out vehicles off the bridge okay?
Would really like to hear your perspective.

[Qanisqineq]

8. I am with the protesters

I'm sorry, I thought that was a given since I was posting a link that was from their perspective.

I don't know what being vague about what he does has to do with anything. He could be a janitor or a receptionist and still see all the protests outside and be subjected to building lockdowns. He's in IT, if it matters.

Local news is biased against the protesters. With oil a big thing here and vast majority republican, would it really be the other way?

The end of October? Wow, I thought it was much longer ago than that, and no it isn't ok. None of it is ok. I hear white people (I am white too) saying racist things about the Native Americans all the time. I saw a white guy verbal attack a Native American at the grocery store last week. And he wasn't the one asked to leave.

I grew up on the eastern side of the state, left after college, and lived all over the country and across the ocean. After almost 20 years I came back to the oil and meth hell this state has become. I have actually sat down and wept about it many times in the 12 months I've been back. What became of my home? And now we want to leave and that breaks my heart, too, to feel so powerless that you can't do anything to stop the greed and the influx of oil people who care nothing for this state.

I would join the protests but I have a 2 year old daughter and cannot subject her to the tactics of the police. Which makes me feel cowardly and powerless, too.

I'm sorry if I was too vague in my first post. I am not the type that exposes her feelings or really much about my life at all, either in real life or on the internet.

[7wo7rees]

9. Thanks so much for sharing and I do understand how

you feel. It's all a very real tragedy in every direction.
Hope you have a nice TDay. Take care.

[prairierose]

5. I guess I do most of my watching and discussing on the facebook and

don't think of bringing any of that over here to DU. I am in SD not that close to Standing Rock or Cannonball. Some of my students from last year are there and I have friends who go home create and gather materials and take them back to the camps to help the people there.

The numbers of protectors keep growing but the numbers of militarized police seem to keep growing too. The pipeline company is determined to build this pipeline and they are all willing to break the law to do it. Bobby Kennedy said the other day that if the pipeline is built, it gives the fossil fuel industry another 40 years to keep moving fossil fuels to make it pay for itself. It is a way to hang on to the past and fossil fuels and they couldn't care less how many people are affected or the dangers involved. They really do not care how many people they hurt or kill.

They are ecstatic that trump supposedly won the election because since he is invested in this pipeline, he will make sure that it gets built.

[7wo7rees]

7. I called the White House. I called ETP in Dallas.

The person on the phone at the White House told me all remarks are going directly to Prez Obama. I asked her what can we do and she told me make more calls, don't stop calling.

As for ETP in Dallas. Make the call. The person that answers flips you into VM hell.

By the way, live in Dallas. Not too far from where Mr Warren lives. He had a park named for his 9 yr old son. He bought the naming rights for a park built over a freeway.

KLYDE WARREN PARK. That was to have been young Klyde's legacy. Now young Klyde gets to have his park be this legacy.