Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. statement

Media Contacts: Don Terry dterry@rainbowpush.org 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 26, 2016

 Water is Life, Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline 

A statement by Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. 

CANNONBALL, N.D. – Everywhere I went today, I was greeted with a simple but profound statement, “Water is life.” 

It was shouted by young children and ancient grandmothers, by a white man from Florida and four young Indian men on horseback. 

Water is life. 

I spent the day not far from here, as a proud member of the coalition of conscience, standing with the people of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and their courageous nonviolent crusade to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. 

The construction of the $3.8 billion pipeline – which will carry 500,000 gallons of crude oil a day across four states – threatens the tribe’s sacred lands, burial sites and drinking water. But the people of Standing Rock are not mere protesters. They are protectors. {PROTECTORS}

Yet, they do not fight just for themselves. A stretch of the pipeline is scheduled to run below the Missouri River, the tribe’s water source. The river is also the source of water for 17 million people – mostly non-Natives – down river. 

A pipeline leak into the Missouri could be an environmental disaster of epic proportions. The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, as dangerous and disgraceful as it continues to be, impacted about 100,000 residents. 

The Native American plight is one of protracted genocide and dishonored treaties. They are unrepresented by the protection of law. The police are used as threat and intimidation. Native youth, I was told today, are eight times more likely to commit suicide than other American youth. Life expectancy for Native men and women is not much beyond middle-age. They need lifelines, not pipelines. 

The Standing Rock reservation is one of the poorest areas in the country and from what I saw and heard today one of the proudest and most determined to defend Mother Earth. They are like that tree planted near the water. They shall not be moved. 

I was moved, though. I was repeatedly greeted with warmth and prayer in the camp dotted with cooking fires, teepees and tents, home to more than 1,200 Native Americans from dozens of tribes and their allies from across the country and the world. Some days during the months-long campaign to safeguard the environment, three times that number has lived in the camp. 

I should say almost everywhere. Leaving the camp, headed for the airport, my colleagues and I were stopped at a police checkpoint. The officers were armed with assault rifles and grim faces as they confronted unarmed Americans. One of the officers had his finger near the trigger of his rifle during the entire 20 minutes of negotiations it took for them to allow us to pass. 

It was an unnecessary and ugly confrontation – and a tremendous waste of police resources. But this struggle is about more than a pipeline. It represents an indigenous resistance movement, a reawakening. I hope our nation does not continue to abandon our Native brothers and sisters. I will return to this prairie of hope as soon as I can. When I do, we will again stand together. We will pray together. We will learn and teach together. We will protect the water together and if need be, we will go to jail together to stop the pipeline. 

Water is life. 

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. 


Founder and President Rainbow PUSH Coalition -30- Rainbow PUSH Coalition is a multi-racial, multi-issue, progressive, international organization thatwas formed in December 1996 by the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. through merging of two organizations he founded Operation PUSH People United to Serve Humanity (estab. 1971) and the RainbowCoalition (estab. 1984). With headquarters in Chicago and offices in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Detroit,Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Oakland, the organization works to make the American Dream a realityfor all citizens while advocating for peace and justice around the world. RPC is dedicated to improvingthe lives of all people by serving as a voice for the voiceless. Its mission is to protect, defend and gaincivil rights by leveling the economic and educational playing fields while promoting peace and justicearound the world. 

http://www.rainbowpush.org/page/-/Documents/PressRelease/Release102616.pdf

Dakota Access Pipeline continues to commit crimes against Humanity

Welcome to today's post from Alaska's Big Village Network providing real information AND a bit of satire addressing the ongoing Human Rights violations by a U.S. Corporation in the State of North Dakota.  Energy Transfer Partners' Dakota Access oil pipeline activities continue to break International Covenants and U.S. Laws using the State of North Dakota's political system to pursue violent means to enforce the false Western mythology of "progress and development".  Here are a few clips from Indian Country Today articulating on the ground observations from thousands of U.S. and global citizens.  - Alaska's Big Village Network 

Indian Country Today Media Network 10/25/16

A Call for Justice Dept to Act on DAPL Civil Rights Abuses

ICTMN Staff

10/25/16

Concerned and angered by the use of dogs, pepper spray, military tactics and strip searches against unarmed water protectors at the construction sites of the Dakota Access oil pipeline, Standing Rock Sioux Chairman David Archambault II is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to step in.

“I am seeking a Justice Department investigation because I am concerned about the safety of the people,” Archambault said in a statement. “Too often these kinds of investigations take place only after some use of excessive force by the police creates a tragedy. I hope and pray that the Department will see the wisdom of acting now to prevent such an outcome.”

Read more at https://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/10/25/call-justice-dept-act-dapl-civil-rights-abuses-166205

 

Justice Dept Reaffirms It Will Not Grant DAPL River-Crossing Permits Anytime Soon

ICTMN Staff

10/25/16

“While the Army continues to review issues raised by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other tribal nations and their members, it will not authorize constructing the Dakota Access Pipeline on Corps land bordering or under Lake Oahe,” Justice Department spokesman Wyn Hornbuckle told the news station in an e-mail on Tuesday October 25. Earlier in the day, Standing Rock Sioux Chairman David Archambault II had requested a DOJ investigation into civil and human rights abuses by police and other authorities against the protectors. “In the interim, the departments of the Army, Interior, and Justice have reiterated our request that the pipeline company voluntarily pause all construction activity within 20 miles east or west of Lake Oahe.”

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/10/25/justice-dept-reaffirms-it-will-not-grant-dapl-river-crossing-permits-anytime-soon-166208

1851 Fort Laramie Treaty

Now starring Oil is Life by the Dakota EXCESS Pipeline From The Juice Media (satire):

Behind the scenes  look into the Dakota EXCESS Pipeline:   

ADULT LANGUAGE WARNING

For folks wishing to find out more on how to support (click on):

 Standing Rock Sioux Reservation,

 Sacred Stones Camp, 

Red Warrior Camp and/or 

Oceti Sakowin (7 Fires) Camp.

 please contact Alaska's Big Village Network with additional questions.

email akbigvillage@gmail.com

1851 Treaty Honoring: Police beat Water Protectors with batons, pepper spray them during prayer: update from the field

10/24/16
ABVN traveled long and far this last week to witness the front line Prayers for Peace and Non-violence at the Camp of Sacred Stones and overflow camp Oceti Sakowin (seven council fires).

https://vimeo.com/groups/82929/videos/188723484

The journey of awareness building and prayers for peace is necessary to address the profound Human Rights implications of the State of North Dakota militarized violent tactics to protect corporate special interest over US Treaties, International Covenants of Human Rights and basic human dignity .  
The State-sponsored violence is causing significant harm to peaceful indigenous peoples, women, children, and elders praying in Honor and reverence for Mother Earth at the headwaters of the Mississippi-Missouri Watershed to Protect Water and Sacred Sites (freedom of Religion and religious spiritual sites).

 The territory at question of the Human Rights violations by North Dakota against Tribal Nations is occurring inside the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie lands currently occupied by Oceti Sakowin.

Yesterday, Water Protectors affirmed the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie by reclaiming the lands along the pipeline route near the Missouri River, just North of the Cannonball River.  The Oceti Sakowin are now directly challenging the legality of the Dakata Access Pipeline that threatens cultural survival and water for millions of American People.

http://sacredstonecamp.org/blog/2016/10/23/citing-1851-treaty-water-protectors-establish-road-blockade-and-expand-frontline-nodapl-camp

Brenda Norrell's also has more info below with pictures, updates and indigenous media at CENSORED NEWS http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Please listen to this interview by Grandma Carol Masden experience in this weekends violence that left many people harmed by violent police forces.    

1851 Treaty Honoring: Police beat Water Protectors with batons, pepper spray them during prayer: update from the field

10/24/16
ABVN traveled long and far this last week to witness the front line Prayers for Peace and Non-violence at the Camp of Sacred Stones and overflow camp Oceti Sakowin (seven council fires).

The journey of awareness building and prayers for peace is necessary to address the profound Human Rights implications of the State of North Dakota militarized violent tactics to protect corporate special interest over US Treaties, International Covenants of Human Rights and basic human dignity .  
The State-sponsored violence is causing significant harm to peaceful indigenous peoples, women, children, and elders praying in Honor and reverence for Mother Earth at the headwaters of the Mississippi-Missouri Watershed to Protect Water and Sacred Sites (freedom of Religion and religious spiritual sites).

 The territory at question of the Human Rights violations by North Dakota against Tribal Nations is occurring inside the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie lands currently occupied by Oceti Sakowin.

Yesterday, Water Protectors affirmed the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie by reclaiming the lands along the pipeline route near the Missouri River, just North of the Cannonball River.  The Oceti Sakowin are now directly challenging the legality of the Dakata Access Pipeline that threatens cultural survival and water for millions of American People.

http://sacredstonecamp.org/blog/2016/10/23/citing-1851-treaty-water-protectors-establish-road-blockade-and-expand-frontline-nodapl-camp

Brenda Norrell's also has more info below with pictures, updates and indigenous media at CENSORED NEWS http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Please listen to this interview by Grandma Carol Masden experience in this weekends violence that left many people harmed by violent police forces.