Dogs Directed to Bite Protesters At Standing Rock Occupation

FEATURING SARAH MANNING – The encampment at the Cannon Ball River in North Dakota to halt construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline continues to grow. Thousands of people are now present, using their bodies to confront the state and the company doing the pipeline construction, Energy Transfer.

The protest, led by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, has attracted global attention, including solidarity from other US and North American indigenous nations, Black Lives Matter chapters, and more. Activists see themselves as “water protectors,” stewarding the Missouri River.

In the past week however, violence against protesters has sharply escalated. Last week, dozens of activists were arrested and many locked themselves to construction equipment. And, over the weekend, media and activists documented numerous incidents of private security guards using trained dogs to physically attack and bite protesters.

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Sarah Manning, Columnist and Contributing writer at Indian Country Today Media Network.