#NoDAPL Live Blog: Police Begin to Arrest ‘Water Protectors’ at Oceti Sakowin Camp
Editor’s note: Truthdig contributor Donald Kaufman is currently on the ground at Oceti Sakowin camp in North Dakota. Read previous coverage of the #NoDAPL demonstrations here. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see multimedia updates via Evrybit.
2:39 p.m. PST: “They are snatching up water protectors one at a time,” one observer reports via Facebook live. The police have begun to move their line back.
The Lakota Law Project also reports that numerous reporters aren’t being recognized as official press:
Police have decided who are "approved media", otherwise they are not acknowledging anyone or their credentials— Lakota Law Project (@lakotalaw) February 22, 2017
2:32 p.m. PST: Unicorn Riot is reporting that several journalists were “seized” by Wisconsin State Patrol. It adds that six people have been arrested thus far.
2:25 p.m. PST: Multiple outlets are reporting that law enforcement has begun to arrest those still occupying Oceti Sakowin camp.
2:19 p.m. PST: Buzzfeed News is streaming live video from Oceti Sakowin:
2:12 p.m. PST: The Lakota Law Project is reporting that “[a]rmed police have begun to confront remaining protectors.”
It also tweeted:
"This is your last warning to leave" - US federal government's law enforcement, to Native Americans, on treaty land. #ForcedRemoval— Lakota Law Project (@lakotalaw) February 22, 2017
And Jack Smith IV shared video:
It begins. At Standing Rock, police begin advancing on the media and water protectors. pic.twitter.com/4jpeBiBXrK— Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) February 22, 2017
1:45 p.m. PST: According to Mic reporter Jack Smith IV, those remaining in Oceti Sakowin are convinced that the police raid will occur soon, although the North Dakota governor’s office sent a representative who seems unsure of the situation:
Water protectors in the camp, still stoking fires and stoves here in the mess hall, very convinced that they will raid at 4 pm (20 minutes).— Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) February 22, 2017
Levi Bachmeier from the ND governor's officer is vague on if police will enter camp today, "cleanup" begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/NpgN7Qxjq0— Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) February 22, 2017
1:18 p.m. PST: All is quiet at Oceti Sakowin, although people still remain in the camp. Kaufman has evacuated Oceti Sakowin and is stationed at Rosebud Indian Reservation across the river. He reports:
Groups of vans and cars are gathered around Oceti Sakowin, but law enforcement has not yet made a move. The camp itself is smoking; everything smells like burnt plastic. People have left behind RVs and full structures used as homes. Those who remained in camp are worried about police brutality.
12:36 p.m. PST: Law enforcement has not yet forced the evacuation of Oceti Sakowin, but have told the remaining water protectors to leave immediately or risk arrest. For the full story, scroll down to the Evrybit multimedia embedded in the bottom of this page.
12:02 p.m. PST: The 2 p.m. evacuation deadline has arrived. Unicorn Riot is streaming live, where one reporter remarks “I hope we don’t get arrested.” Watch below:
11:58 a.m. PST: Numerous structures have been set on fire in the face of impending evacuation:
Security shack set on fire and barricades erected at North gate entrance to Oceti Sakowin #NoDAPL camp. Eviction force expected any minute pic.twitter.com/e4LUKM6MAi— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) February 22, 2017
11:55 a.m. PST: Tension in camp is rising as the 2 p.m. deadline to evacuate draws closer:
In just a few minutes, police will move in on the camp at Standing Rock. This is the sign that's just gone up. pic.twitter.com/svuz3Z9t24— Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) February 22, 2017
Meanwhile, some activists are arriving at the Iowa Governor’s office to show resistance and urge the government to divest with Wells Fargo (similar actions have already been taken by governments in other states):
Occupying the Iowa governor's office now to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline @Bold_Iowa @iowacci #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/L2htYrItW0— Heather Derr-Smith (@Hderrsmith) February 22, 2017
Occupying the Iowa Governor's Office to stop the Dakota Access pipeline. @Bold_Iowa @flotson @iowacci pic.twitter.com/j7VfKDfM7d— Heather Derr-Smith (@Hderrsmith) February 22, 2017
11:47 a.m. PST: Here is a look at some of the water protectors at Oceti Sakowin today:
Richard has been @ #StandingRock for 6 months. He hopes the world hears of what happens today. "Today isn't the end, it's the beginning." pic.twitter.com/LP3K23mLcD— Andrew Kimmel (@andrewkimmel_) February 22, 2017
Veterans stand with Strong Hearts at Standing Rock
#NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/beFucgoD63— #NoDAPL Resistance (@NoDAPL_) February 22, 2017
Andrew is a Native Veteran from the Air Force. "My duty is to get people out safely before they come in." #standingrock @usairforce #veteran pic.twitter.com/8UnP1veXpe— Andrew Kimmel (@andrewkimmel_) February 22, 2017
11:42 a.m. PST: The official deadline to evacuate camp will strike in less than 20 minutes.
Not all of the water protectors left camp during the “prayer walk,” and Kaufman reports that the National Park Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are stationed at checkpoints near Oceti Sakowin.
As Unicorn Riot reported, many plan to passively resist evacuation.
The exit out of camp was full of emotion:
Emotions are running high as some water protectors choose to leave. A hard decision to make, but some can not risk arrest. #standingrock pic.twitter.com/DtjIaBUY1F— Andrew Kimmel (@andrewkimmel_) February 22, 2017
11:10 a.m. PST: There is now less than one hour left until the 2 p.m. MST deadline for water protectors to clear out of Oceti Sakowin camp. Chanting and praying, a large crowd slowly makes its way out of camp. Watch Kaufman’s coverage below:
11:06 a.m. PST: Website Unicorn Riot is also covering today’s actions at Standing Rock. Below, an indigenous elder explains how some plan to passively resist evacuation of the camp:
10:43 a.m. PST: After engaging in a drum circle and peaceful chanting, many are exiting Oceti Sakowin camp ahead of the 2 p.m. deadline. Water protectors are marching out of the camp, singing and praying. For another live stream from the camp, check out Truthdig contributor Michael Nigro’s Facebook live stream.
10:31 a.m. PST: Kaufman is streaming live video footage from Oceti Sakowin camp to Truthdig’s Facebook page.
—Posted by Emma Niles
9:38 a.m. PST: Truthdig contributor Donald Kaufman is prevented from accessing Oceti Sakowin Camp. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see the video embedded via Evrybit.
9:26 a.m. PST: Kaufman says the Bureau of Indian Affairs is blocking the only road that provides access to the camp. “The guy wouldn’t talk to me and grabbed me to push me in the car,” Kaufman says. “When I was asking him questions he said he was from BIA” and “refused to give a reason” for blocking the road.
8:50 a.m. PST: Kaufman says people are calm in the camp. The eviction is planned for 2 p.m.
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Reporting from the Oceti Sakowin encampment in North Dakota, Truthdig contributor Donald Kaufman says authorities are preparing to forcibly disband the site where unarmed, indigenous people and their allies, who call themselves “water protectors,” are resisting efforts to install the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
Follow developments from Kaufman and others here.
—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly