A significant number of U.S. veterans have gathered at Standing Rock, North Dakota, in a powerful display of solidarity with those protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. The construction of this oil pipeline is seen as a severe threat to the land and water of Native Americans, as well as to sacred tribal sites and burial grounds.
This remarkable assembly of veterans aims to protect the demonstrators from the aggressive tactics employed by the militarized police and the security forces associated with the pipeline project. Organized by veteran Michael Johnson and screenwriter Robert Smith, the initiative has successfully raised over $860,000 via crowdfunding efforts. Their commitment is to maintain a peaceful protest, ensuring that no acts of violence or hatred will be permitted.
Ruth Martinez, a writer for Native Voices, shared images on social media showcasing the veterans’ arrival. Many of these individuals have made significant sacrifices, leaving behind their families and jobs to advocate against what they perceive as injustice.
In one poignant instance, veteran David Lee walked over 200 miles to join the water protectors. In a heartfelt video, he expressed how he felt compelled to support “our people, my people, your people.” He emphasized that regardless of the length of service, they all took an oath to protect the Constitution and the values it represents. “The true enemies we face are not foreign but right here in our own backyard,” he stated.
The harsh realities faced by the demonstrators have been widely documented, particularly through social media, revealing instances of law enforcement using tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons. Some protesters have even filed a class action lawsuit alleging excessive force.
Beyond offering physical protection, the veterans are also working to deliver essential supplies, such as food and water, to those who have been enduring the brutal winter conditions at the protest site. This effort comes in the wake of a mandatory evacuation order issued by North Dakota’s governor, citing extreme weather as the reason for the directive. With temperatures dropping to 19 degrees and forecasts predicting single-digit lows, the situation for the demonstrators is increasingly precarious.
The Dakota Access Pipeline, with a staggering price tag of $3.8 billion, is designed to transport oil from North Dakota, passing beneath Lake Oahe on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and extending through South Dakota, Iowa, and into Illinois. While most of the construction is complete, the segment under the lake remains unfinished.
The veterans plan to continue arriving throughout the weekend and are committed to organizing further actions to support the cause. They express their determination to confront the injustices happening in their own country, rallying around the sentiment: “If not us, who? If not now, when?”
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In summary, the gathering of 2,000 veterans at Standing Rock represents a significant moment of solidarity in the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Their commitment to peaceful protest and protection of the demonstrators highlights the ongoing struggle for justice and environmental protection.