Government coddling pipeline protesters with $7million taxpayer dollars

In yesteryears Hollywood got it right when it portrayed native people as being on to government authorities whom they described as: “two-faced” and wont to “speak with a forked tongue”. The governments of later generations may have fooled the masses with their doublespeak and campaign promises that melt like the snow in spring, but it’s all but impossible to fool a people who routinely faced the elements and followed herds to keep their families fed.

There must be legions among the present-day Sioux at the Oceti Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires Camp, on federal land in southern North Dakota, who recognize the speaking-from-both sides-of-their-mouth government, which has ordered hundreds of protesters to leave…sort of. Leave by Monday is the order from one side of the government’s mouth. On the other side, they are promising an additional $7 million worth of help to keep protesters warm and safe should another winter storm strike anytime soon.  “The head of North Dakota's emergency management services says the state is prepared to respond to Dakota Access pipeline protesters who may need help during a winter storm or some other crisis. (FoxNews, Dec. 4, 2016)

“State Homeland Security Director Greg Wilz said it would be a "huge challenge," especially during a mass evacuation, but his office has winter shelter plans in place and various agencies are ready to respond.

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"The bottom line here is, if we are in a situation of life and limb, we are going to be humane in anything and everything we do," Wilz said. "We aren't going to let somebody out there freeze. So if they start evacuating en masse looking for shelter — which I highly suspect will happen — we would take care of that.”

That’s like saying get out of Dodge by sundown, but we’ve prepared warm cozy places for you should you decide to stay. And the demonstrators insist they’re prepared to stay until changes are made to the route of the four-state, Dakota Access Oil, $3.8-billion pipeline. “The Standing Rock Sioux tribe and others say the pipeline north of the reservation could pollute drinking water and threatens sacred sites.” (FoxNews) There’s a little problem here in that The US Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the federal land where the main protest camp is located, shows little respect for sacred sites—anywhere. Why should the Standing Rock Sioux tribe trust an organization that in 2011 decided to release record amounts of water from the Garrison Dam, which inundated a good chunk of the Missouri basin, with little or no notice to the tens of thousands of folks down stream, and currently in Siesta Key, Florida are making beach goers and modest business and home owners afraid of losing their white sand, spectacular beaches, perhaps the beach flora, and their paradise to the Army Corps of Engineers and City of Sarasota dredge plan.

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A mandatory evacuation that comes with a rider that no one will be forcibly removed is a joke

“The North Dakota Department of Transportation and Morton County Highway Department will be key players in any evacuation plans, Wilz said, noting that those agencies worked to keep roads clear around the protest site during a recent storm that dumped more than a foot of snow. (Fox News) “U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in a statement Friday that the Department of Justice has offered community policing resources to local law enforcement as "winter begins to take hold." ''Our first concern is the safety of everyone in the area — law enforcement officers, residents and protesters alike," Lynch said. “Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier said Lynch contacted him by phone Friday to discuss the situation. "While I appreciate the Attorney General taking the time to reach out to me, neither assistance for law enforcement nor a timeline for resolution was offered," Kirchmeier said in a statement. "I hope the dialogue continues, but it's time for more actions from the federal government, not more words.” “The North Dakota National Guard is prepared to help with any emergencies, said Jeff Zent, spokesman for Gov. Jack Dalrymple. The Republican governor issued a "mandatory evacuation" Monday for the main encampment, though he said no one would be forcibly removed.

A mandatory evacuation that comes with a rider that no one will be forcibly removed is a joke. More government doublespeak is apparent in the words of Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney who, in encouraging protesters to heed both the federal government’s “request” to leave the land, said at a news conference on Saturday, that authorities won’ be “moving on that camp” on Monday or “in the future”. Add to the protest ‘culture’ complaints from demonstrators that white demonstrators are reportedly turning up with intentions to “colonize” the camp. “Concerns have been raised by protestors on social media, who claim that people are arriving at the Standing Rock demonstration for the "cultural experience" and treating it like Burning Man festival.” (Independent, Nov. 29, 2016) "White people are colonizing the camps,” protester Alicia Smith wrote on Facebook. “I mean that seriously. Plymouth rock seriously. “They are coming in, taking food, clothing and occupying space without any desire to participate in camp maintenance and without respect of tribal protocols. "These people are treating it like it is Burning Man or The Rainbow Gathering and I even witnessed several wandering in and out of camps comparing it to those festivals.” Ms Smith observed that many protestors appeared to be living off the native American community, and were taking advantage of donations sent in for the cause. Another Twitter user said they had witnessed a protestor turn down tap water to spend donations on 'fluoride free' water. “An open letter detailing the camp's ground rules has been shared on Twitter in an attempt to tackle the issue, which reminds demonstrators that the camp is "not a vacation". “It says protestors should avoid drugs and alcohol, engage with the elders, and refrain from playing guitars around campfires.” Proving that it pays to be a protester comes by way of a GoFundMe page which recently raised more than $1 million after setting out to reach just $5,000. But high profile supporters who have expressed their support for the cause including Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Lupita Nyong'o, Whoopi Goldberg and Mark Ruffalo already have parkas and sturdy winter boots. Meanwhile, it’s high time for a new slogan. Call it, ‘Save the Environment…from ‘environmental’ protesters and the U.S. Army Corps Engineers.

Feds block route of Dakota Access pipeline

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Sunday that it won't grant an easement for the Dakota Access oil pipeline in southern North Dakota, handing a victory to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and its supporters, who argued the project would threaten a water source and cultural sites. North Dakota's leaders criticized the decision, with Gov. Jack Dalrymple calling it a "serious mistake" that "prolongs the dangerous situation" of having several hundred protesters who are camped out on federal land during cold, wintry weather. U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer saying it's a "very chilling signal" for the future of infrastructure in the United States. -- More..