TULSA - Tribes from Oklahoma are among those supporting a mostly Native American protest in North Dakota that turned violent over the weekend.
The group called Democracy Now posted video and pictures of the violence on Saturday.
The videos show the oil company's private guards clashing with protesters near an encampment where hundreds are staying during the protests.
The Morton County Sheriff’s office says several guards hired by the oil company were injured when hundreds of protestors approached a construction site. A spokesperson for the tribe says at least 30 people were pepper sprayed and say guard dogs bit at least 6 people.
More than 180 tribes across the country are supporting the protestors—the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma recently sent volunteers with donations of food water and other supplies.
Sherry Hamby says it was an amazing experience.
"It's the first time in my lifetime that I have seen a gathering of nations of this magnitude over protecting water," Hamby said.
The Dallas-based company building the pipeline insists it's safe and will lead to thousands of new jobs.
A federal judge is expected to rule Tuesday on an injunction filed by the Sioux tribe.
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