Police, backed up by members of the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Guard, has raided and cleared the Oceti Sakowin camp of DAPL protesters.
Police detain a protester against the Dakota Access oil pipeline, North Dakota, US, February 23, 2017 (Photo: Reuters / Terray Sylvester)
The Oceti Sakowin camp near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota was raided and cleared by policemen, who also arrested dozens of protesters against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Some part of activists, who refused to leave peacefully, set fire to their makeshift housing.
As the Reuters news agency reported, citing the Morton County Sheriff’s Department, the camp was completely emptied shortly after 2:00 pm local time (8:00pm GMT).
According to spokeswoman for the department, Maxine Herr, at least 47 people were arrested by 50 policemen in riot gear, backed up by members of the Army Corps of Engineers and the National Guard.
On February 23, bulldozers, military vehicles and police come into the Oceti Sakowin camp in order to clear it from the remaining DAPL protesters. While some activists decided to leave the camp peacefully, after the Wednesday’s deadline for evacuation was announced at the order of the governor of North Dakota, others, about 100 people, had remained in the camp and set the wooden constructions on fire.
As the AP news agency reported, citing the Morton County Public Information Office in Bismarck, North Dakota, protesters set around 20 fires and burned one vehicle. Reportedly, there also were at least two explosions, and a seven-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl were taken to a hospital with burns.
“It’s really hard being here right now but we know we need to be here because we know that they are wrong and we are right,” one of the protester told Reuters.
One of the camp leaders, Phyllis Young, told AP that the protests will continue.
“Freedom is in our DNA, and we have no choice but to continue the struggle,” she said.
Meanwhile, the spokeswoman for the Morton County Sheriff’s Department noted that “things went very smoothly. We are very happy with the operations.” She also added that about 200 law enforcement officials took part in the operation.
Police detain a protester against the Dakota Access oil pipeline, North Dakota, US, February 23, 2017 (Photo: Reuters / Terray Sylvester)
Police form a line to push back protesters, North Dakota, US, February 23, 2017 (Photo: Reuters / Stephen Yang)
Police detain a protester against the Dakota Access oil pipeline, North Dakota, US, February 23, 2017 (Photo: Reuters / Terray Sylvester)
A building burns after it was set alight by protesters, North Dakota, US, February 22, 2017 (Photo: Reuters / Terray Sylvester)
Debris is seen in the recently closed Oceti Sakowin camp before the police raid in Cannon Ball, North Dakota, US, February 23, 2017 (Photo: Reuters / Stephen Yang)