Bloomington: Solidarity Assembly and Action with Standing Rock

From Riffi Bloomington

On Sunday, 30 October 2016, nearly 40 Bloomington community members gathered publicly to build solidarity in resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).

DAPL is being built to carry crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois, crossing under the Missouri River and through land that was guaranteed to the Sioux Native American community in the 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty. Pipelines often burst and leak oil into natural water sources; DAPL endangers clean water for nearly 10,000 individuals.

Participants expressed their support of ongoing resistance to DAPL. We shared updates on materials collection and fundraising to support the struggle through the harsh North Dakota winter, while also laying plans for spreading solidarity in the event of further state raids.

The assembly concluded with an action at the Sunoco on south Walnut in response to Sunoco’s hefty investment in the DAPL project, through its parent company Energy Transfer Partners. We picketed the station and blocked one entrance briefly. By demonstrating, we hope to spread awareness of the struggle and the repression at Standing Rock, and make sure that those profiting from the pipeline know that they will face consequences for jailing and injuring water defenders. Resistance will take many forms and spread in the coming weeks, as the construction contractors approach the river and the police ramp up their attacks.