As a member of the Quapaw tribe of Oklahoma, I like so many other Natives from various indigenous tribes joined the Oceti Sakowin camp at Standing Rock. The movement against the Dakota Pipeline was always peaceful, yet this non-violent, Native-led resistance was met by devastating aggression by the police.

It was a shock to see the extreme retaliation against water protectors, many of whom were elders, women and children. The militarized landscape was difficult to fathom: surveillance was constant and obvious. SUVs and armoured vehicles were parked over hilltops within our line of sight. Unmarked aircraft flew overhead 24/7. At night, floodlights threw blinding white light over the gently sloping hills. At more than one action, I witnessed the police over their megaphone threaten individuals by name whom they had been able to photograph and identify at a distance. How have we reached this point?

Standing Rock protests continue: 'Water is life'

This seems to just be the beginning of the crackdown on dissent coming from both the White House and emboldened Republican states.

Donald Trump has been arguing that anyone who protests against him is only doing it for the money. He tweeted that the thousands who took to the streets to oppose his inauguration were “professional anarchists” and “paid protestors”. On Fox & Friends, Sean Spicer, White House press secretary, said that the demonstrations were “…not these organic uprisings that we’ve seen through the last several decades. You know, the Tea Party was a very organic movement. This has become a very paid, Astroturf-type movement”.

At the state level in North Dakota, a Republican bill, specifically aimed at us Standing Rock protesters, was suggested to exempt drivers who “unintentionally” hit or kill pedestrians who are obstructing traffic on public roads. The bill did not go through, but it sets a dangerous precedent.

In Minnesota, the GOP introduced a bill to make protesting on freeways a gross misdemeanour with fines of up to $3,000 and one year jail time. In a separate bill put forward, the nonviolent obstruction of authorities would incur at least a year jail time and fines of up to $10,000. In Iowa, a similar bill to attach criminal penalties to protesters blocking roads is being planned by Republican lawmaker Bobby Kaufmann.

The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Show all 9 1 /9 The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the media White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer takes questions during the daily press briefing Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Union leaders applaud US President Donald Trump for signing an executive order withdrawing the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations during a meeting in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington DC. Mr Trump issued a presidential memorandum in January announcing that the US would withdraw from the trade deal Getty The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Mexico wall A US Border Patrol vehicle sits waiting for illegal immigrants at a fence opening near the US-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas. The number of incoming immigrants has surged ahead of the upcoming Presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has pledged to build a wall along the US-Mexico border. A signature campaign promise, Mr Trump outlined his intention to build a border wall on the US-Mexico border days after taking office Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and abortion US President Donald Trump signs an executive order as Chief of Staff Reince Priebus looks on in the Oval Office of the White House. Mr Trump reinstated a ban on American financial aide being granted to non-governmental organizations that provide abortion counseling, provide abortion referrals, or advocate for abortion access outside of the United States Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the Dakota Access pipeline Opponents of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines hold a rally as they protest US President Donald Trump's executive orders advancing their construction, at Columbus Circle in New York. US President Donald Trump signed executive orders reviving the construction of two controversial oil pipelines, but said the projects would be subject to renegotiation Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and 'Obamacare' Nancy Pelosi who is the minority leader of the House of Representatives speaks beside House Democrats at an event to protect the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, California. US President Donald Trump's effort to make good on his campaign promise to repeal and replace the healthcare law failed when Republicans failed to get enough votes. Mr Trump has promised to revisit the matter Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Donald Trump and 'sanctuary cities' US President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January threatening to pull funding for so-called "sanctuary cities" if they do not comply with federal immigration law AP The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and the travel ban US President Donald Trump has attempted twice to restrict travel into the United States from several predominantly Muslim countries. The first attempt, in February, was met with swift opposition from protesters who flocked to airports around the country. That travel ban was later blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The second ban was blocked by a federal judge a day before it was scheduled to be implemented in mid-March SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP/Getty Images The controversial orders Donald Trump has already issued Trump and climate change US President Donald Trump sought to dismantle several of his predecessor's actions on climate change in March. His order instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to reevaluate the Clean Power Plan, which would cap power plant emissions Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Republicans in Washington are pushing for legislative change that would create the new crime of economic terrorism for protests which harm a person’s ability to make a living.

Following the Trump administration’s comments that people are being paid to protest, Republican state senators in Arizona have voted to give police powers to arrest anyone involved in a peaceful demonstration. The most worrying part however, is the fact that the legislation gives the government the right to prosecute and seize the assets of anyone planning or attending a protest.