The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has been protesting the 1,172-mile crude oil pipeline for months, claiming that the project desecrates sacred lands and threatens wildlife and the local water supply, as it would run underneath the Missouri River and Lake Oahe.
Construction was halted the first time a month ago when the federal government asked Energy Transfer Partners (ETP), the pipeline operators, for time to consider the Sioux’s concerns, and to cease building within 20 miles of the area in question.
The US Army, the Department of the Interior and the Justice Department renewed their appeal to ETP Sunday after an appeals court denied the Standing Rock Tribe’s request to stop construction completely.
"We also look forward to a serious discussion during a series of consultations… on whether there should be nationwide reform on the tribal consultation process for these types of infrastructure projects," the government agencies' joint statement of support read.
Indian Country quotes a statement from Standing Rock Sioux Chairman David Archambault II, observing, "The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is not backing down from this fight," and “We are guided by prayer, and we will continue to fight for our people. We will not rest until our lands, people, waters and sacred places are permanently protected from this destructive pipeline."
Thousands of protesters have camped out on the North Dakota prairie, where the pipeline would push 470,000 barrels of crude oil per day across four states. Celebrities and progressive politicians have publicly supported the peaceful action, including Susan Sarandon and Leonardo Di Caprio. Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and running mate Ajamu Baraka both faced charges after spray-painting messages of support on construction equipment at the protest site.
Shailene Woodley, an actress best known for her lead role in the film Divergent, was arrested Monday, along with 27 other protesters, and charged with engaging in a riot and trespassing.
"Oh my God, there’s so much riot police… They all have batons… I’m shaking, this is so scary," Woodley said, livestreaming her arrest. "They grabbed me by my jacket and said I couldn’t continue and they have giant, like, guns and batons and zip ties and they’re not letting me go."
The video showed armored vehicles and police in riot gear, drawing 2.4 million views on Facebook. Woodley is set to go to court October 24 and posted a $500 bond. Authorities say there have been at least 123 arrests since the protests began.
