UPDATE (6/12/17) – Emails released by The Intercept as part of their investigation into leaked documents from DAPL security contractor TigerSwan include an “Intel Group” email thread which took place in real time the night of November 20, 2016. The emails show local, state, and federal officials monitoring the presence of media at Backwater Bridge that night, including Unicorn Riot. After law enforcement began using water cannons on the crowd of water protectors, Bismarck Police officer Lynn Wanner sent a joke to her colleagues in the Intel Group: “I guess it [water] isn’t life after all.” Additional emails also show the ‘Intel Group’ conspiring to frame Sophia Wilansky as being responsible for her severe injuries that night, which witnesses say were caused by police atop an armored vehicle throwing a grenade directly at her as she was fleeing.

Cannon Ball, ND – Water protectors attempting to clear two damaged military trucks from Highway 1806 were met with a militarized response by law enforcement working to ensure the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. Police used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, concussion grenades, and more crowd control munitions (e.g. here, here, here, & here).

Water Protectors try to Clear 1806 Bridge met with Water Cannons, Tear Gas, Concussion Grenades & Rubber Bullets from Unicorn Riot.

At least 300 people were injured, updated reports indicated by Wednesday, November 23rd. Around midnight of November 20th, injuries to over 160 people were reported, as medics also confirmed that a 13-year-old girl was shot in the face by law enforcement, two people suffered cardiac arrests (at least one person is in critical condition), and many contusions and damage to hands resulted from rubber bullets. Many people were also experiencing hypothermia from the water cannons and have lung and eye irritation from tear gas and mace.

We were live on and off through the night as the standoff lasted over six hours.

We are #LIVE now recapping the days events during the HWY 1806 standoff thats been ongoing for hours https://t.co/zcDC9sOoZx #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/wGf00oIH9w — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

Military trucks were placed blocking Highway 1806 and have been chained to concrete barricades since the battle of October 27th, when police forces raided the Oceti Sakowin 1851 treaty camp. The police have not allowed the road to be cleared since.

Starting around 5 p.m. CST on Sunday, November 20th, water protectors attempted to pull one of the two vehicles out of the road in attempts to clear the blocked pathway. They were met by police shooting rubber bullets and tear gas at them. Some tear gas canisters were tossed immediately back to police.

5:19 PM 11/20/16: Sheriffs again fire tear gas at water protectors attempting to clear Highway 1806 bridge, canister returned. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/c1Tf28nkTA — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

Rubber bullets were continually shot at those people who were attempting to push the truck out.

Police and military forces arrived and were seen sitting atop Bearcats and MRAP’s, pointing assault rifles and sniper rifles at unarmed water protectors from behind six feet tall razor wire.

Eventually water protectors made use of a semi truck to remove one of the burnt law enforcement trucks from the highway.

11/20/16: Burnt military truck left by police to block Hwy 1806 removed by water protectors using semi & chains. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/2ryIRN90VV — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

The LRAD sound cannon was used throughout the day to push back the crowd of maybe a thousand water protectors attempting to clear the Hwy 1806 blockade.

LRAD sound cannon used after water protectors throw tear gas back at North Dakota law enforcement while clearing 1806. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/rZYw4vcLfU — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

A standoff that ensued for hours on the bridge happened when the gathered crowd attempted to remove the next barricaded truck.

Water protectors attempting to move 2nd vehicle from bridge to clear road for emergency vehicles to be able to come through #nodapl pic.twitter.com/MNEYdq2vSp — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

The police started to use a water cannon as it was activated from the top of the MRAP. It was shot directly at water protectors who were standing on the highway attempting to clear the last remaining truck.

It's 27° outside and police have begun hosing down the unarmed crowd with water cannons. Medics are rushing to frontline w/ blankets #NoDAPL — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

Although a Sheriff’s spokesmen stated to NBC that no water cannons were used, there remains plenty of footage of water cannons being used, as you can see below.

Sheriff’s spokesman Rob Keller told NBC that no water cannons were used and water was only deployed to put out fires set by #NoDAPL crowd. pic.twitter.com/9qc2l10rOX — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

Despite temperatures below freezing and hovering around 24 degrees with a wind chill dipping to 15 degrees, police fired water cannons extensively at water protectors throughout the night. Morton County Sheriff Kirchmeier himself released a statement expressing concerns over the weather and its effects just two days before forces in his jurisdiction were filmed using water hoses for hours on end, before any fire was seen.

Nov 18: Morton County Sheriff expresses concern about hypothermia at #NoDAPL camps. Nov 20: uses water cannons on ppl in ~20 degree weather pic.twitter.com/1c2KaQxfUQ — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

Throughout the night, water protectors on the frontlines used shields to protect themselves from the barrage of water.

Below is a video of shielded water protectors approaching the frontline of razor wire.

8:00 PM 11/20/16: Group of water protectors with gas masks & shields advance together towards police line #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/BSEKn1olE5 — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

Amidst the freezing water, rubber bullets, and concussion grenades, dozens among dozens of tear gas canisters were shot off by police and military forces.

While documenting, a Unicorn Riot journalist was shot in the abdomen with a rubber bullet and their press badge was blown to pieces.

One of our reporters just had their press pass shot off when shot in the abdomen with a rubber bullet #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/IYljH2xveL — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

As the actions wound down and police continued using crowd control weapons, Unicorn Riot documented the police utilizing fire trucks to put out fires that water protectors were using to get warm after being doused with water hoses.

1:30AM : a fire truck is attempting to hit fires that keep people warm , we are LIVE https://t.co/zcDC9t5ZR5 #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/bQu1wYAtlO — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 21, 2016

Below is a live feed from a drone that show some of the action from the night, including fires built over the shallowed out creeks that water protectors were using to warm up.

To watch our live feeds of the night, view below:

Unicorn Riot will continue to provide direct updates about resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Follow our media on Twitter, Facebook, and our website for more information surrounding the ongoing struggles against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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Unicorn Riot’s coverage of the anti-Dakota Access Pipeline struggle #NoDAPL from early summer 2016 to present:

March – May 2016

August 2016

September 2016

October 2016

November 2016