Wrongful Law Enforcement Ethics Towards Standing Rock Protestors

Many weeks have passed since the protests of the Dakota Access Pipeline on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation have been brought to the media's attention. The 1,172 mile long pipeline in question is a $3.7 billion investment in order to connect the oil-rich areas of North Dakota to Illinois: being used for crude oil transport to refineries along the Eastern Seaboard. One of the areas of concern in the path of the pipeline's construction is the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The pipeline is set to cross the Mississippi River, of which the Reservation is located just a mile from. There is worry that the water in that river would be poisoned, as well as harm being done to the sacred land that lay at the Reservation.

Protestors holding banners as well as a "defend the sacred" banner

The protesters have been met with aggressive and invasive force as well as violence by law enforcement agencies in Morton County. According to this Change.org Petition, it states that Kyle Kirchmeier, the Morton County Sheriff is not doing his job of protecting the people in the ongoing crisis. He has apparently failed to protect the citizens from dog attacks by private security companies. There is also a possibility of bias towards the media and nothing but silence towards the people in order to contribute to the pipeline's agenda. Also, the protesters are constantly being watched and questioned, and are being blamed for harassment of ranchers and farmers: but to the creator this is not the case at all. They don't just want Kirchmeier possibly removed from his position: but also have the Attorney General Wayne Strenehjem conduct an ethics investigation on him.

The creator of this petition is very mindful when it comes to interacting with people like her and who are fighting for the same cause. The way this was written was straightforward and to the point. However, as the pipeline is apparently well into construction, many of the people who are protesting there may be receiving more violence, and possibly being kicked out. While it is important to remember those who call this place their home and to put the people over business, it is unfortunate that the dangerous and polluting business of oil production is more appealing. It is also to the disadvantage of these people that the ones that could be helping them out are shutting them down and the contributions to the pipeline agenda are plentiful. Just as an example when Amy Goodman, a journalist, had received a warrant for her arrest: to them being a violation to free press. However, as much as there is to be as much faith as possible in these peaceful protesters and their capabilities to their futures, it just may not be enough to attract attention to even those who block them off. I would sign this as much as I believe just a little bit that this is not going to go through. In reality, as mentioned before, business and money over people and what they care about in their lives and their devotions to those things.

People holding up a banner that says, "WE ARE WATER"