Morton County, ND – Multiple lockdowns took place at two Dakota Access Pipeline construction sites in Morton County North Dakota. All work was stopped for the day as police arrested twenty people, including targeting and arresting two Unicorn Riot journalists.

Water Protectors Arrested by Militarized Police from Unicorn Riot.

Unicorn Riot covered both actions and were live to record the militarized response and mass arrest at the first site.

NEW(ER) VIDEO of ND Hwy Patrol targeting & arresting Unicorn Riot journalists covering #NoDAPL actions pic.twitter.com/hBAVHoYwnY — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 15, 2016

The non-violent direct action, which included white allies performing the lock downs, started in the morning in rural Morton County, North Dakota.

Currently 2 lockdowns in place on DAPL construction by white allies standing in solidairty w/ Standing Rock #noDAPL pic.twitter.com/Qh18fnogT5 — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016

A surveillance plane and helicopter circled overhead while police on the ground blocked all road access to both sites.

Small aircraft likely conducting surveillance, flying low in circles over site of current #NoDAPL lockdown action pic.twitter.com/VjsENZFjRb — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016

Yellow helicopter just arrived on scene, flying very low #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/B3gt2Eg7nF — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016

Construction equipment was still warm as people locked down to stop the laying of the pipeline. Fresh trenches dug deep in the earth showed that pipes had just been laid.

Video report: Despite modest intervention by the Obama administration, Dakota Access Pipeline construction continues pic.twitter.com/aVWXhqzvTK — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 15, 2016

A second non-violent direct action, which also shut down pipeline work for the day, occurred in a separate location.

At the second location, workers shared their joy with the water protectors as they left their equipment for the day.

Workers smile as they shut down their construction machinery at second site #NoDapl pic.twitter.com/QbnkDcYLBh — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016

As the second site stopped work, dozens of riot police arrived to the first site, armed with assault rifles and less-lethal weapons. Around 20 people were arrested at the site of the #NoDAPL lockdown, including medics and two Unicorn Riot journalists.

BREAKING: ~20 people arrested during #NoDAPL lockdown at construction site, including two Unicorn Riot journalists. pic.twitter.com/dtnyAvBncG — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016



As arrests were under way, Facebook’s automatic censor system blocked our live video stream.

we are now having connection issues & at same time @facebook has blocked our @livestream URL https://t.co/JCOVR1Y6bs pic.twitter.com/J7UEFE2ogF — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016

Now back LIVE with massed riotpolice , they just started moving. Facebook is blocking us! https://t.co/JCOVR1Y6bs pic.twitter.com/z4UU9H0mpx — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 13, 2016

“So they’re pointing at everyone with cameras saying, he’s going, she’s going…So, it seems like they’re targeting media for arrest. We might be getting arrested here…” – Unicorn Riot journalist, via live video stream, just before being arrested.

NEW(ER) VIDEO of ND Hwy Patrol targeting & arresting Unicorn Riot journalists covering #NoDAPL actions pic.twitter.com/hBAVHoYwnY — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) September 15, 2016



Here’s the livestream of some of the arrests as well as the minutes right before Unicorn Riot journalists are arrested:



UPDATE: Both Unicorn Riot journalists were bonded out of jail after being booked on misdemeanor charges of Criminal Trespass.

The Morton County Sheriff’s Office lists 23 people as having been arrested and all are charged with Criminal Trespass. In a press release issued on Wednesday, Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier announced added charges for the water protectors who used lockboxes to attach themselves to Dakota Access Pipeline construction machinery.

“Carlo Voli and Corey Maxa were arrested Tuesday, September 13th and will face an additional charge of reckless endangerment for attaching themselves to equipment… The Morton County States Attorney’s office will pursue felony charges against the protesters who attached themselves to equipment due to the seriousness of the crime. Law enforcement officers are put in a dangerous situation when freeing these individuals, there is also a danger posed to DAPL, their workers and equipment along with the protester putting themselves also in a dangerous circumstance. We continue to encourage people to protest in peaceful and lawful manners.” – Morton County Sheriff 9/14/16 Press Release

For more information on the increased charges levied against those who locked down, visit our report from Wednesday’s actions and legal updates.

For a recap from the month of August’s action, see below.

September 2016

For our coverage earlier this spring of the Sacred Stone Camp, see May 27th report, “Dakota Access Pipeline Blockade Enters 2nd Month“; May 5th, “Sacred Stone Camp Resists Dakota Access Pipeline“; April 3rd, “Tribal Citizens Build Camp in Path of Oil Pipeline“; March 29th, “Tribal Citizens Prepare to Blockade Bakken Oil Pipeline“.

To support our volunteer-operated, horizontally-organized, non-profit media collective please consider a tax-deductible donation: