As Dakota Access Pipeline construction quickly approaches the Missouri River, the Standing Rock Sioux and allies are vowing to continue their resistance against the pipeline—standing strong despite the violent arrests and inhumane treatment by police, and continued threats from government and industry forces.

“It’s really hard for us to remain in prayer and ceremony when they’re using violence against us. But we will. We will be like stones.”
—Kandi Mossett,
Indigenous Environmental Network”There isn’t much land left between the water and the equipment,” said Cheryl Angel, a member of the Sicangu Lakota tribe who helped create Sacred Stone protest camp, to the Guardian.

The newspaper reports:

And even as supporters rally in solidarity worldwide and human rights observers descend on the area to observe the police, Indigenous water protectors still find themselves constantly on guard against hostile forces.

Indeed, this weekend saw water protectors fearing a mysterious brush fire near the camp as well as new footage of an armed security contractor with Dakota Access who appeared to infiltrate the water protectors during last week’s clashes with law enforcement.

All signs point to the pipeline company being linked to both threats, said Indigenous Environmental Network organizer Dallas Goldtooth.

Democracy Now! featured the footage, filmed during Thursday’s mass arrests and violent dismantling of a protest camp, which shows a Dakota Access security contractor holding an AR-15 assault rifle and wearing a red bandana over his face, pointing his gun at water protectors who were reportedly attempting to de-escalate the situation. The security officer, who had a DAPL security ID card and whose truck was insured by DAPL, was apparently attempting to infiltrate the camp.

The man was eventually arrested by Bureau of Indian Affairs police officers and turned over to the FBI.

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