OKLAHOMA CITY— Hundreds attended a rally at the state Capitol to support the Standing Rock protestors in North Dakota.
The rally comes just days after a clash between law enforcement and protestors over use of private land for a campsite.
The construction of the $3.7 billion pipeline has been ongoing for months, but the recent clash between police and camps of protesters is inspiring Native Americans from across the state to gather at the capitol to show their support for Standing Rock.
Hundreds rallying today at the state Capitol to show solidarity with the Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota— where thousands of people are protesting a controversial oil pipeline that opponents say is disturbing sacred burial grounds.
The fight over construction of a $3.7 billion pipeline has been going on for months— but a recent clash between police and camps of Indian protestors is inspiring Native Americans from across the state to gather here at the capitol to show their support for Standing Rock.
Skiri Whiteeagle is a member of the Pawnee and Seminole tribes. He’s been to the camp in North Dakota several times. He says he knows several of the hundreds who’ve been arrested during the protests.
“When I went there and support of my tribe my native people that are supporting human rights supporting the environment that's why I was there,” Whiteeagle said.
Tribes from Oklahoma are gathering donations to bring back to North Dakota where thousands are preparing to camp outdoors this winter.
“We need a lot of prayers in addition to that a lot of canned food items we need a lot of blankets heavy duty blankets a lot of heavy duty tents, firewood is always something that is needed up there,” said Apollonia Pina of Tulsa.
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has been fighting the pipeline construction for several months. A judge sided with the developer— who says the pipeline is safe and will decrease U.S. dependency on foreign oil.
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