Dakota Access Protesters Mauled (2016)

Sat Sep 03, 2016

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Image: Water Protectors demonstrate against the Dakota crude oil access pipeline near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. Photograph: Andrew Cullen/Reuters

On this day in 2016, water protectors stormed a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site to stop the use of bulldozers to dig up land that contained indigenous artifacts. They were attacked with dogs and pepper spray by a private security team.

The Dakota Access Pipeline protests were grassroots movements that began in early 2016 in opposition to the approved construction of Energy Transfer Partners’ Dakota Access Pipeline in the northern United States.

Many in the Standing Rock tribe and surrounding communities considered the pipeline and its intended crossing beneath the Missouri River to constitute a threat to the region’s drinking and irrigation water, as well as to cultural sites of historic importance.

On September 3rd, 2016, the Dakota Access Pipeline company used bulldozers to dig up part of the pipeline route that contained possible Native graves and burial artifacts; the land was subject to a pending legal injunction.

Protesters stormed the land and were attacked by a private security firm, armed with attack dogs and pepper spray.

Amy Goodman, a journalist with Democracy Now!, followed the protesters and recorded them being attacked by the firm. Goodman was later charged with participating in a “riot” and issued an arrest warrant by a North Dakota state prosecutor, however the charges against her were rejected by a state judge.