FROM Rudi Bega at Oceti Sakowin Camp, Cannon Ball, ND: "Last night was very, very intense. The conflict at the bridge and blockade was next level. On a personal note, I am ok, safe for now, and aside from lots of tear gas, unharmed.
The media is blatantly lying about the story, far and wide. It started when we started moving the trucks that make up the blockade. The Morton Co. Sheriffs dept. had promised to open rd 1806 weeks ago. It is the fastest way for thousands of people who live on the standing rock reservation to get to town, to services, to the hospital etc. It takes an extra 30-40 minutes to get to Bismark by going around.
Immediately as efforts began to move the trucks (part of blockade) the police started shooting tear gas canisters. This is when I heard about it and made my way to the bridge. What followed was like a scene in a war movie. For hours and hours.
The police launched tear gas canisters at us relentlessly for what seemed like forever. Everyone was gassed. Elders. Prayer circles. Reporters. They even launched long range gas canisters over the bridge to the back lines where medics were treating people who had been gassed, pepper sprayed, and shot with rubber bullets.
The police sprayed water cannons for hours on protesters, now claiming we had set cars on fire. The only fires on site were started by tear gas canisters (which water protectors were putting out) and warming fires for those who had endured water cannons. Hypothermia was setting in for many folks. Keep in mind it was around 20-25 degrees outside. Thousands of gallons were unloaded by the police on people who were peaceably gathering. Hundreds of tear gas canisters. Gallons of pepper spray. Uncountable rubber bullets.
The water protectors stood strong, and relentless. The medics were amazing, and worked tirelessly for hours. They were overwhelmed. When I got back to camp there were several ambulances testing and transporting people to hospitals. The scene was chaos. I had to lay down at about midnight, unable to stand any longer. In the morning there were still people holding vigil on the bridge.
There must be many videos of the scene online. I haven't had time to look, and not sure if I want to. I was in it, burning eyes, nose, and lungs. It was like war.
The police are the army of corporations. America is a corporate state, and we the citizens are not safe here. The only option is to unite against this money controlled existence, to stand up to the billionaire oligarchs, or to surrender as slaves to the dollar, to the oil barons, and the 1%.
No one knows this deeper that the natives, the First Nations of this land. For 500 years colonialism has decimated their culture, and marginalized their peoples, attempting to destroy their way of life. I have an enormous amount of respect for the courage of these indigenous tribes and peoples for their courage to still fight for their lives and for all off is. I am honored to stand with them as an ally, and to say no more. Together we can, we must, kill this black snake, and show the world another way. A way of prayer, of peace, of honor, and of balance. We are killing ourselves and this planet, this Mother Earth.
Find your courage. Pray together. Take action.
#nodapl #mniwiconi #waterislife #killtheblacksnake #cantdrinkoil #ocetisakowin #waterprotectors"
-https://www.facebook.com/rudebwai/posts/10154313537872690 ❤
The media is blatantly lying about the story, far and wide. It started when we started moving the trucks that make up the blockade. The Morton Co. Sheriffs dept. had promised to open rd 1806 weeks ago. It is the fastest way for thousands of people who live on the standing rock reservation to get to town, to services, to the hospital etc. It takes an extra 30-40 minutes to get to Bismark by going around.
Immediately as efforts began to move the trucks (part of blockade) the police started shooting tear gas canisters. This is when I heard about it and made my way to the bridge. What followed was like a scene in a war movie. For hours and hours.
The police launched tear gas canisters at us relentlessly for what seemed like forever. Everyone was gassed. Elders. Prayer circles. Reporters. They even launched long range gas canisters over the bridge to the back lines where medics were treating people who had been gassed, pepper sprayed, and shot with rubber bullets.
The police sprayed water cannons for hours on protesters, now claiming we had set cars on fire. The only fires on site were started by tear gas canisters (which water protectors were putting out) and warming fires for those who had endured water cannons. Hypothermia was setting in for many folks. Keep in mind it was around 20-25 degrees outside. Thousands of gallons were unloaded by the police on people who were peaceably gathering. Hundreds of tear gas canisters. Gallons of pepper spray. Uncountable rubber bullets.
The water protectors stood strong, and relentless. The medics were amazing, and worked tirelessly for hours. They were overwhelmed. When I got back to camp there were several ambulances testing and transporting people to hospitals. The scene was chaos. I had to lay down at about midnight, unable to stand any longer. In the morning there were still people holding vigil on the bridge.
There must be many videos of the scene online. I haven't had time to look, and not sure if I want to. I was in it, burning eyes, nose, and lungs. It was like war.
The police are the army of corporations. America is a corporate state, and we the citizens are not safe here. The only option is to unite against this money controlled existence, to stand up to the billionaire oligarchs, or to surrender as slaves to the dollar, to the oil barons, and the 1%.
No one knows this deeper that the natives, the First Nations of this land. For 500 years colonialism has decimated their culture, and marginalized their peoples, attempting to destroy their way of life. I have an enormous amount of respect for the courage of these indigenous tribes and peoples for their courage to still fight for their lives and for all off is. I am honored to stand with them as an ally, and to say no more. Together we can, we must, kill this black snake, and show the world another way. A way of prayer, of peace, of honor, and of balance. We are killing ourselves and this planet, this Mother Earth.
Find your courage. Pray together. Take action.
#nodapl #mniwiconi #waterislife #killtheblacksnake #cantdrinkoil #ocetisakowin #waterprotectors"
-https://www.facebook.com/rudebwai/posts/10154313537872690 ❤
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