Orders to leave could have little effect on pipeline protest camp

But North Dakota law enforcement did announce that they were beginning a blockade of supplies into the camp, effectively cutting off protesters from supplies like food and building materials.

“The Corps needs to get the federal agencies to work with our state and local law enforcement to keep the peace”, said Sen. He says that the oil company believed the move would be too risky, and it was for that reason that they chose to build the pipeline in Standing Rock.

Although the veterans joining the dissent say they plan to peacefully protest, Stabler said the ongoing demonstrations near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, where an oil pipeline would cross the Missouri River, if given final approval, have been “less than peaceful” over the past 100 days.

Potter, who is making his second trip to the protest, said he was concerned about the tactics used against the protesters.

“We’ve never had a situation like this before”, North Dakota Department of Emergency Services spokeswoman Cecily Fong said. Dalrymple’s order does make clear, however, that individuals who don’t leave or who re-enter will be “subject to penalties as defined in law”.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R) signed Executive Order 2016-08 which orders the mandatory evacuation of all persons in areas of Morton County that are under the jurisdiction of the Army Corps.

In other words, there will not be a road block, but anyone entering the area will be notified that they are trespassing and penalized accordingly.

It is both unfortunate and ironic that this announcement comes the day after this country celebrates Thanksgiving – a historic exchange of goodwill between Native Americans and the first immigrants from Europe.

“They have deliveries, retailers that are delivering to them – we will turn around any of those services”, she said.

Some military veterans in North Dakota disagree with the 2,000 veterans planning to join a protest opposing the four-state, $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline. The current proposed route, however, would take it through four states, stretching 1,172 miles to connect areas with oil in North Dakota to southern IL. Members of the tribe say the pipeline could contaminate water, and that the route threatens sacred lands.

“We’re trying to stay strong through all of this”, he said.

Last month, the Corps said it would not evict the encampment, which started as overflow from smaller private and permitted protest sites nearby and began growing in August.

Police have been criticized for using water cannons, rubber bullets and pepper spray against protesters.

During a news conference Saturday at the camp, protest organizers said they will not leave or stop their acts of civil disobedience.

Protesters, who refer to themselves as “water protectors”, have been gearing up for the winter while they await the Army Corps decision on whether to allow Energy Transfer Partners to tunnel under the river.