Native Americans And Allies Attempt To Clear Bridge After MCSO Refused To Open Backwater Bridge

Hundreds of Native Americans and allies attempted to clear the Back Water Bridge to have access to N.D. Hwy 1806, but police resisted and began to repell them.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

November 20, 2016

Mandan, N. Dakota - On Sunday, hundreds of Native Americans and allies converged at the Backwater Bridge to clear burned vehicles from blocking access to N. Dakota Highway 1806. The Morton County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) and assisting cops repelled that clean up, since they have kept the burned vehicles and set up a road block to keep #NoDAPL protesters from exiting the Oceti Sakowin Camp for at least a month citing an unsafe bridge.

People at the camp decided to remove the burned vehicle and were faced with resistance from the MCSO. The MCSO used water cannons, concussion grenades, mace, rubber bullets and a sound tactical protest weapon to disorient the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protesters or water protectors.

Kevin Gilbertt has been live streaming to more than 2.2M viewers from the scene in his Facebook account for more than several hours of the MCSO assault on unarmed Native Americans and allies. It is about 26 degrees at the scene and water protectors are facing Hypothermia in cold weather and wet conditions.like caused by the water cannon.

The MCSO released the following statement, "Law enforcement is currently involved in an ongoing riot on the Backwater Bridge, north of a protest camp in Morton County. Protesters in mass amounts, estimated to be around 400, are on the bridge and attempting to breach the bridge to go north on highway 1806. Protesters have started a dozen fires near the bridge."

It has cost Morton County and the State of N. Dakota more than six million in protecting the interests of DAPL, which they favor by repelling any protest against the pipeline construction. the MCSO has frivolous filed rioting charges against dozens of peaceful proetesters, since last August. More than 300 arrests have been made by the MCSO and the United Nations observers filed a report alleging blatant police abuse, excessive use of force, human rights violations committed and use of police militarized force on peaceful protesters.