If you look at the temperature in Cannon Ball, North Dakota
last night you’ll see that it was hovering around 23 degrees Farhenheit for
most of the night. Protesters were out all night, fighting against the DAPL, as
they have been for months now. As if this cold wasn’t hard enough to withstand,
they were attacked by police, with rubber bullets, tear gas, an LRAD cannon (tested, but not used in any of the video I watched),
mace, percussion grenades, and a water cannon. Yes, a water cannon in freezing
weather. After watching Kevin Gilbertt’s live videos for much of last night,
there were a few things I learned. I'll cite the time each event occurs/is noted in the 30 minute shortened video I compiled.
Mainstream media has failed us, and their replacements are
under attack:
3 drones belonging to Digital Smoke Signals were shot down (29:35).
The FAA has issued a no fly zone for private aircraft, including drones, in the
area of the protests [1]. You may remember when Shailene Woodley was singled
out and arrested, while obeying orders to move [2]. Many thought it was likely that
this was a way to silence her live videos, as many were watching the situation
unfold on her streams. Protesters have claimed authorities jammed cell phone
signals at some points, this has been disputed, and the problems may be due to spotty
coverage. However, the coincidence that those problems occurred when police
began breaking down a protester camp seems suspect. Even if the latter two claims are incorrect, the no fly zone is only to attack the protester's communication with the outside world. The protesters are flying drones with video, not missile systems, and they pose no threat to the police, apart from the threat that their actions will become public.
There have been a number of health issues. One
person required CPR, twelve people have gone to the ER, and at least 100 people were transported back to the main camp
from injuries related to tear gas or the cold temperature and water (29:48). There is also a claim that a man was
severely injured by a bean bag round, with his skull exposed, attested to by more than one protester (22:24).
They are attempting to discredit the movement:
The Morton County Police Department is releasing factually inaccurate
propaganda. They claimed that the water protesters were setting fires and that
they used the water cannon in an attempt to put those out. The only protester-started
fires visible in the hours of footage I’ve watched are small, controlled camp
fires for warmth, a necessity when police spray water in crowds in these
temperatures (21:43). These fires have not been targeted by the water cannon, and indeed in all the footage I've seen the cannon was only targeting the protesters. There were some other fires, but from what I saw it appeared that
the police set them, and water protectors rushed to put them out.
What can you do?:
Remove your money from banks that support DAPL, call the governor of North Dakota (701-328-2200), the Morton Co. Sheriff's Office (701-667-3330), the White House (202-456-1111), the EPA (404-562-9077), Amnesty International (202-544-0200), and anyone else you think could make an impact. Block the buildings of banks that support DAPL in a protest of solidarity. If you want to donate, here is a link so you can help them survive the winter. And of course if you can, head out there, they need more bodies.
My main sources are videos from the scene. If you don’t
trust me, please, take a look for yourself:
Kevin Gilbert Facebook Page (I recommend following him for updates)
full videos:
