Police attack NoDAPL treaty camp, shots fired at horses and riders, over 100 arrests

On the 27th of October, police fired rifles or shotguns at horses and riders on horseback during a military style assault on the new Treaty Camp set up across the route of the Dakota Access Pipeline. At least one person hit with rubber bullet, two horses shot with live rounds. One horse has died. In addition to the gunfire, they fired pepper spray and an LRAD sound cannon, and made 24 arrests of water defenders on foot who made a stand against the minions of the Black Snake. NBC News reports other arrests drove the total to more than 100 people arrested. Over half of the Indigenous Youth Council was "attacked, injured, or arrested" according to the Indigenous Environmental Network. Police even attacked medics, a war crime when done by recognized armed forces.

Video of the police attack posted by Unicorn Riot to Vimeo. Video shows LRAD sound cannon, gas grenade launchers, pepper spraying, and a Taser incident in which a Taser dart barely missed a water protector's eye.

On the 28th of October, the Standing Rock Sioux tribe confirmed that one mounted water protector was hit 4 times by rubber bullets and his horse was shot in the legs. That horse survived. Another horse died after being shot. The tribe also reported that a security guard for the pipeline builders attempted to blend into the water defenders with a high powered rifle but was detected and stopped. As for the police, witnesses report some loaded with "less lethal" rounds but others loading "full clips" of live rounds.

As of the evening of October 27, the cops were pushing water defenders back towards the long established Red Warrior and Sacred Stone camps. At one point, police were delayed by a herd of buffalo.

The Standing Rock Sioux tribe is asking people across the continent to go to N Dakota to continue the resistance, to organize local solidarity actions against banks, politicians, and oil companies that profit from the pipeline, and to donate to the legal fund.

The two main banks here in DC are TD Bank and CitiBank. Several TD Bank branches in DC have been shut down before by protests against this dirty pipeline, and they should expect more trouble in the wake of the militarized attack on peaceful but determined water defenders.

Update Oct 28 2PM EDT:Standoff continues today as water protectors regroup. Unicorn Riot reports "crowd of warriors and burnt vehicles" sucessfully holding bridge on highway 1806 against police. Evidently yesterday's brutal violence could not rout people defending their right not to be poisoned. Same as yesterday, police have drawn weapons and water defenders are unarmed.

Update Oct 28 1:50PM EDT:Reports an elder was accused by police of having a gun over a prayer stick (not a rifle or shotgun). Police claimed she drew a .38 revolver and fired three shots at them, but video evidence shows she had only a prayer stick, which does not look at all like a pistol. Unconfirmed report of arrestees being held without bond.

Update Oct 28 12:40AM EDT :

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is requesting that the Department of Justice enlist observers and investigators to get the facts on injuries, unlawful arrests and law enforcement abuse.

Update Oct 27 8:30PM EDT:Dave Archambault II, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has issued this statement:

Militarized law enforcement agencies moved in on water protectors with tanks and riot gear today. We continue to pray for peace. We call on the state of North Dakota to oversee the actions of local law enforcement to, first and foremost, ensure everyone’s safety. The Department of Justice must send overseers immediately to ensure the protection of First Amendment rights and the safety of thousands here at Standing Rock. DOJ can no longer ignore our requests. If harm comes to any who come here to stand in solidarity with us, it is on their watch. They must step in and hold the state of North Dakota and Morton County accountable for their acts of violence against innocent, prayerful people.

The Obama administration has asked DAPL to voluntarily halt construction until the review process has been completed, but DAPL has ignored these repeated requests. By deploying law enforcement to support DAPL construction, the State of North Dakota is collaborating with Energy Transfer Partners and escalating tensions.

We need our state and federal governments to bring justice and peace to our lands, not the force of armored vehicles.

We have repeatedly seen a disproportionate response from law enforcement to water protectors’ nonviolent exercise of their constitutional rights. Today we have witnessed people praying in peace, yet attacked with pepper spray, rubber bullets, sound and concussion cannons. We urge state and federal government agencies to give this tense situation their immediate and close attention.

We also call on the thousands of water protectors who stand in solidarity with us against DAPL to remain in peace and prayer. Any act of violence hurts our cause and is not welcome here. We invite all supporters to join us in prayer that, ultimately, the right decision—the moral decision—is made to protect our people, our sacred places, our land and our resources. We won't step down from this fight. As peoples of this earth, we all need water. This is about our water, our rights, and our dignity as human beings.