Morton County, ND – Over two hundred multi-state law enforcement and National Guard personnel attacked water protectors gathered on unceded 1851 Oceti Sakowin treaty land just north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in the late morning of Thursday, October 27th.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2016 – new video

Video below shows police attacking Oceti Sakowin Treaty Camp with pepper spray, less-lethal rounds used at close range, batons, LRAD, and tasers.

For hours, the water protectors attempted to hold back the authorities sent to remove them from the path of the Dakota Access Pipeline towards the Missouri River.

High Mobility Military Vehicle (HMMV) trucks driven by the North Dakota National Guard flanked Highway 1806 on the hills as fires burned at barricades set to slow the authorities’ march.

At close range, law enforcement personnel repeatedly fired a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) sound cannon at water protectors in an attempt to drive them out. LRAD attacks were expected and many water protectors had earplugs to mitigate likely permanent damage.

Tasers, beanbag shotgun rounds, concussion grenades and batons with sniper rifle overwatch from MRAP and Bearcat armored vehicles, surrounded with HMMVs were depolyed against the Oceti Sakowin (Sioux) people and their supporters. One Unicorn Riot reporter was struck with a baton by a Hennepin County (MN) deputy acting in a force unit.

In a continuing pattern of foregoing transparency, law enforcement from multiple states concealed their identities by hiding nameplates and badge numbers, which can prevent individual officers from being named and deposed in lawsuits around police brutality and abuse.

#NoDAPL: @HennepinSheriff deputies hid their badges to anonymize them, so they can't be ID'ed & deposed in lawsuits, video analysis shows > pic.twitter.com/oBF9CUQw27 — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) November 1, 2016

Close view of the middle of the formation as law enforcement and military advance:

Police advance towards blockade on Hwy 1806 to evict #OcetiSakowin from 1851 treaty land and pave way for the #DakotaAccessPipeline. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/VRQAGRdN10 — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

Tires and debris were burning as law enforcement and military attempted to advance on the highway:

Blockade materials on roadway, vehicle is placed on roadway in front of police line blasting people with LRAD noise https://t.co/zcDC9sOoZx pic.twitter.com/3wDeJBbGae — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

Barricades set on fire as North Dakota police and military advance to evict new Oceti Sakowin winter camp #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/njRJKhu34E — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

12:40 p.m. LRAD sonic weapon activated to attack water protectors at high intensity:

BREAKING: 12:40CDT law enforcement has activated LRAD sonic weapon to attack water protectors at high intensity https://t.co/zcDC9sOoZx pic.twitter.com/RHMl7IHqjT — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

During the afternoon there was smoke generated on the roadway and objects like tires, logs, were placed:

LIVE 12:45PM CDT: There is now smoke generated on the roadway and objects like tires, logs, have been placed https://t.co/zcDC9sOoZx pic.twitter.com/RdgEwhOvQu — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

The elder pictured below in ceremonial garb held a prayer for everyone gathered on Highway 1806 and was arrested shortly after:

This elder in ceremonial garb held a prayer for everyone gathered on Highway 1806 and was arrested shortly after. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/XrL6jqSRFS — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

Police have arrested an elder in ceremonial garb who was praying. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/IJtXUvPQyd — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

Water protectors used lockdown techniques to slow the advance of law enforcement into the Treaty Camp:

Person is locked to this disabled truck currently blocking Highway 1806. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/zG1iSnIJIQ — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

1:38 p.m. Humvee driven by National Guard and police in riot gear deployed to protect DAPL site from indigenous water protectors.

1:38 PM: Humvee driven by National Guard and police in riot gear deployed to protect DAPL site from indigneous water protectors. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/61qWQ8xuWw — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

2:16 p.m. Highway 1806, North Dakota Tactical Operations force pushing water protectors with MRAP and Bearcat armored vehicles

2:16 PM Highway 1806 , North Dakota Tactical Operations force pushing water protectors with MRAP and Bearcat #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/n8AWCacOfK — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

When North Dakota military and police began pushing into treaty land early this afternoon, DAPL was actively working until people entered the site. #NoDAPL

When North Dakota military police began pushing into treaty land early this pm, DAPL was actively working until ppl entered site. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/8yj4JCiMbQ — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

There were several arrests as water protectors entered the construction site:

Several arrests as water protectors enter construction site while authorities move to evict new winter camp on 1851 treaty land. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/9QsxOnaIGS — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

A sniper rifle is pointed directly at the crowd:

Later in the afternoon materials at the roadblock near the Morton County Road 134 bridge were still burning, blocking passage for authorities:

Smoke from burning roadblock at Morton county road 134 #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/TVdiilHmCI — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

Smoke still burning from roadblock on Morton County road 134. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/stpZOa8aEA — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

The main force unit that was beating people with batons and spraying them with mace was officers from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office.

BREAKING: @HennepinSheriff officers are beating water protectors with batons and have just assaulted Unicorn Riot reporters! #NoDAPL — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

Earlier this week, hundreds flooded the City Hall in Minneapolis to condemn the use of Hennepin County deputies and resources being deployed to North Dakota.

Unicorn Riot asked some of the deputies on the frontline why they deployed to North Dakota after the Minneapolis city council issued a declaration in support of Standing Rock, they refused to answer.

.@HennepinSheriff didnt respond to Q about why they deployed to ND after Mnpls city council declaration in support of Standing Rock #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/JpmmojhrNl — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016

A medical triage has been set up at Oceti Sakowin camp, treating dozens of people wounded by militarized law enforcement.

In a press conference earlier this evening, Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier estimated 16 arrests. He also answered “no“, when asked if tasers were used; however video footage shows clearly law enforcement using a taser against water protectors.

As of 7 p.m. CDT, Morton County Sheriff Public Information Officer informed us that an estimated 107 arrests had taken place.

Unicorn Riot will continue to cover events as they develop around the #NoDAPL water protector camps near the Missouri River.

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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