Standing Rock - update

This is a brief update. I'd hoped Obama would use his authority to deescalate the situation at Standing Rock. These people, American citizens, are protesting eminent domain of their sacred lands. They are joined by representatives, peaceful demonstrators, from hundreds of other indigenous groups and social justice concerns. It's Thanksgiving Week. On Monday night they were water cannoned, tear-gassed, and shot with rubber bullets. It's so cold at the site, peaceful protestors are told not to come unless they can bring something sturdier than a tent (something with walls) to get through the nights. 

Please check out Vance Blackfox's letter to our readers. 

Here are a few recent headlines telling the story of how First Americans, specifically the Standing Rock Sioux and their supporters, are being treated at Standing Rock. --ChrisS

Recent Events: 

• 11/21, Dakota Pipeline: Protesters Soaked With Water in Freezing Temperatures
• 11/21, "He Just Smiled and Shot Both of My Kneecaps"
• 11/21, Portland bus to help shield against hypothermia and subfreezing at Standing Rock
• 11/22, The Standing Rock Resistance is Unprecedented

"As resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline in Standing Rock, N.D., concludes its seventh month, two narratives have emerged:

1. We have never seen anything like this before.
2. This has been happening for hundreds of years."

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NPR.org

• 11/22, Medics Describe How Police Sprayed Standing Rock Demonstrators with Water Cannons and Tear Gas
• 11/22, Broken Promises: Why Treaties Matter to the Standing Rock Sioux

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ABC News

• 11/22, Woman Facing Possible Amputation After Standing Rock Confrontation
• 11/22, West Rockbury Pipeline Activist Faces Amputation After Police Injure Over 300 Peaceful Water Protestors At Standing Rock

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Sophia Wilansky is one of the Grave 6 defendants.

Background: 

• 8/14, July leak of the Dakota Pipeline
• 10/20, Woman, Sky Bird Black Owl, Gives Birth at Standing Rock
• 10/22, Standing Rock overview
• 10/26, Neil Young, "Indian Givers" (Live)
• 10/28, What to Know About the Standing Rock Protests
• 11/16, Standing Rock documentary for Obama, by the Standing Rock Sioux

• 11/17, Linda Black Elk, Ethnobotanist, on the Plant Biodiversity at Standing Rock
• 11/18, What Standing Rock Needs Obama Needs to Do
• 11/22, Standing Rock: What Makes a Person Join the Protest?
• 11/22, Standing Rock: Portraits from the pipeline protest
• 11/22, Footage of Standing Rock violence

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ReallyAmerican

Martin Lenoble

Martin Lenoble

Martin Lenoble

Places to donate / help: 

• The Standing Rock Sioux Dakota Access Pipeline Fund
• National Congress of American Indians Action Alert
• The Nation recommends: Contact the Army Corps of Engineers to demand that they reverse the permit sanctioning the Dakota Access Pipeline. Call the regulatory complaint line at (202) 761-5903, or contact Jo-Ellen Darcy, the assistant secretary of the Corps, directly at (703) 697-8986 or joellen.darcy@us.army.mil
• United Church of Christ's appeal for donations
• Medical Fund for Sophia Wolinsky
• Donate to The Women of Standing Rock
• Donate to the Supply Fund
• Donate to the Legal Fund
• Sign a Petition
• More ideas