The Caddo Nation chairwoman Tamara Francis-Fourkiller and her family revealed that an anonymous donor contributed $2.5 million dollars late Saturday afternoon to free all those who had been arrested and detained from Thursday’s protest efforts against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.
Main media streams have remained absent from the coverage of one of the largest and most historic Native American peaceful demonstrations in history, but that hasn’t dampened their drive or motivation. Tribes from all over the world, alongside a plethora of other activists, remain at Sacred Stone Camp, peacefully protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline.
The campaign has been met with violence and ridicule by local and state police, as well as, the Army National Guard. With the use of armed guards, LRAD’s, and rubber bullets the officials have forcefully arrested and injured hundreds of protesters while they sit quietly praying, attempting to preserve the land and water that surrounds their reservation.
Thursday marked another enormous example of the type of violence these government officials were willing to go to to protect the oil company and the money they will be bringing in. During a protest and prayer session, officials attacked protesters with bean bags, rubber bullets, and armed violence in an attempt to move them from land just purchased privately by Energy Transfer Partners, the company doing the bulk of the construction.
People were torn from sweat lodges, beaten, and injured by weapons branded by police, and the kicker is not one water protector was armed. The police have gone out of their way to lie publicly about the protesters and have also turned to injuring the horses that the Warriors are riding upon. Ultimately they ended up arresting nearly 140 protesters who have come forward to talk about the mistreatment they endured while in custody.
According to several of the accused they were taken in, had numbers drawn on their arms, and then were stuck in dog kennels until their release. Luckily due to someone’s incredibly generous donation, the accused were released, and general counsel is being assigned since most of the arrested are being charged with both felonies and misdemeanors.
The stunning mentality of these men and women continue to move us, and regardless of the media blackout, the Progressive Nomad will continue to cover these brave water protectors until the world begins to understand just how important this cause is for all of us.
Featured Image Via Inforum
