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North Dakota: Police Arrest Over 100 Water Protectors

HeadlineOct 24, 2016

In North Dakota, police arrested over 100 people this weekend who gathered for a peaceful march opposing construction of the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline. The demonstrators, who call themselves protectors, not protesters, were arrested after they were confronted by police in riot gear carrying assault rifles. They say police pepper-sprayed them and then arrested them en masse. This is footage from the Sacred Stone Camp.

Police officer 1: “You’re all under arrest! Back off!”

Police officer 2: “You’re under arrest!”

Water protector: “Do not be afraid! Stand your prayer!”

Those arrested face charges including riot, reckless endangerment, criminal trespass, assaulting an officer and resisting arrest. Organizers also say officers fired rubber bullets at drones the water protectors were using to document police activity. We’ll go to North Dakota after headlines to speak with Tara Houska of Honor the Earth and Sacheen Seitcham of the West Coast Women Warriors Media Cooperative. We’ll also speak with actress Shailene Woodley, who was arrested during a protest against the pipeline on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and with Deia Schlosberg, a filmmaker who was charged with three felonies and is facing 45 years in jail for filming another pipeline protest in Walhalla, North Dakota.

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