RIGHT NOW IN NORTH DAKOTA, HUNDREDS OF NATIVE AMERICANS ARE FIGHTING TO PROTECT A PIECE OF LAND THEY BELIEVE IS SACRED. WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE PROTESTS SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, BUT AS THE PIPELINE PROJECT CONTINUES, PROTESTORS HAVE BECOME MORE AGITATED. PROTESTERS ARE OBJECTING TO TWO ASPECTS OF THE PIPELINE: POTENTIAL WATER POLLUTION AND WHETHER ITS ROUTE IS RUNNING THROUGH LANDS SACRED TO THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX INDIAN TRIBE.
HOWEVER, STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SAY THE LAND IS PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THE COMPANY BUILDING THE PIPELINE HAS THE RIGHT TO DO SO. LET’S CATCH UP WITH THE LATEST ON THESE PROTESTS.
(nats- Family peaceful prayers we are not here to fight) THIS WAS THE CALM BEFORE 141 PEOPLE ENDED UP IN HAND CUFFS…. (nats) HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BLOCKING A HIGHWAY AND A PIECE OF LAND FOR ONE CAUSE: TRYING TO STOP THE NORTH DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE IN IT'S TRACKS. (Mekasi Horinek, Camp coordinator) "When they saw this military force took us back to days to Cavalry wiping out the village."
PROTESTERS BLOCKED A HIGHWAY, SET UP CAMP IN THE PIPELINE'S PATH. AS THINGS GOT MORE INTENSE, CARS AND EQUIPMENT WENT UP IN FLAMES.
(Lt. Tom Iverson, North Dakota State Patrol) "Probably a large number of them maybe even the majority of them were being peaceful when you're throwing Molotov cocktails at law enforcement officers, you produce a handgun and fire three rounds at law enforcement officers// Nobody would describe that situation as peaceful."
POLICE MOVED IN USING PEPPER SPRAY BEAN BAG ROUNDS AND EAR SPLITTING SIRENS TO PUSH PROTESTERS OFF THIS PARTICULAR STRIP OF LAND..
(Sara Sidner, CNN) "THIS IS THAT SAME SCENE TODAY THE CAMP IS HERE THE PROTESTERS ARE NOT AND JUST ACROSS THE HIGHWAY THEY ARE WASTING NO TIME. WORK ON THE PIPELINE IS GOING FULL STEAM AHEAD." THE PROTESTERS INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE STANDING ROCK SIOUX TRIBE DENOUNCED VIOLENCE SAYING THEY ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO PROTECT THEIR WAY OF LIFE THEIR SACRED SITES AND THEIR WATER. WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF PIPELINE RUPTURES THAT COULD POISON THEIR WATER SUPPLY.
(Mekasi Horinek, Camp coordinator) "This is the only source of water for six reservations It's not only important to reservations but for all the towns and communities from here to Gulf of Mexico."
BUT THEIR ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE PROJECT HAVE FAILED SO FAR AND POLICE SAY THEY ARE JUST FOLLOWING THE LAW.
(So the dispute is clearly over the pipeline. This land right here is this considered from the opinion of law enforcement private property here in the north camp?)
(Lt. Tom Iverson, North Dakota State Patrol) "Yes the land here is private property. (not the tribe's property) Absolutely correct, it's private property behind us as far as North Dakota law and any law says, we're north of the reservation where we're at right now."
THE TRIBE SAYS A 19TH CENTURY TREATY DISPUTES THAT AND THE LAND WAS STOLEN FROM THEM.
(Mekasi Horinek, Camp coordinator) "That treaty was broken every land sale after that date was unlawful."
HORINEK SAYS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS THEIR LAND.