On August 19, 2016, Governor Dalrymple of North Dakota declared "an Emergency exists in Southwest and South Central North Dakota. against the Native American protesters at Standing Rock.

In describing the protest, Gov. Darlymple declared "WHEREAS, the impact of continuing unlawful activity COULD threaten the health, safety and well-being of the general public, protesters and first responders who are committed to protecting life and property; and WHEREAS, an emergency was declared by the Morton County Board of Commissioners on August 15, 2016, due to unlawful activity occurring at the Dakota Access Pipeline construction site, requiring additional manpower, resources and other expenditures; and [causing the presence of] a significant public safety concern [so that]...additional state resources are necessary to help relieve conditions of distress that remain hazardous to the safety and welfare of the citizens of North Dakota.

Governor Dalrymple falsely misrepresented the actions and intentions of the protesters in order to utilize the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).

The invoction of an emergency EMAC has allowed the Governor to get assistence from other states at the expense of national taxpayers in order to use military grade force to protect the financial interests of a private pipeline company.

The EMAC was NEVER INTENDED to be used for the financial gain or security of private business. The EMAC WAS ENACTED FOR DISASTER RELIEF. "offers assistance during governor-declared states of emergency through a responsive, straightforward system that allows states to send personnel, equipment, and commodities to help disaster relief efforts in other states.

The seeming illegal use of the EMAC is the federalization and declaration of an emergency war on the Native Americans at Standing Rock. Police have used pepper spray, sound cannons, concussion grenades, rubber bullets, and batons on hundreds of unarmed water protectors while clearing their camp on historically tribal land.

Over 140 water protectors were arrested. Those taken into custody have reported that they were strip searched, had numbers written on their arms, and were housed in dog kennels with no bedding or furniture.

According to Dallas Goldtooth of Indigenous Environmental Network: the National Guard was used to clear the way for pipeline construction within 20 miles of the river where President Obama has asked that work be stopped.

Men and women were pulled out of a sweat lodge ceremony at gunpoint.

Private security forces had men armed with AR-15 weapons.

Similarities to Wounded Knee had the potential to turn a peaceful protest into a major tragedy.

The militarized police crackdown on a peaceful gathering of unarmed indigenous people in North Dakota happened on the same day as white men who carried out an armed 41-day seige of a nature preserve in Oregon were acquitted of all charges.

Private security planes and helicopters were flying over the camp all day despite declaration of the area as a no-fly zone by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Despite claims that water protectors were armed, the only weapons were in the hands of militarized police -- assault rifles, snipers, concussion grenades, batons, sound cannons, tanks, and more. Horseback riders were attacked by police on ATVs, resulting in one horse being hurt so severely that he had to be put down.

National Guard humvees were onsite with snipers on top.

So grievous is the militarized police crackdown, Amnesty International has announced it is sending observers to North Dakota, and the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is sending a representative to the site.

Video from the scene

Police in North Dakota have unconstitutionally arrested journalists documenting the protests, confiscated their footage, and charged them with felony crimes. Despite these efforts, reports and livestreams from the October 27 police crackdown have been seen by millions. Here are a few:

Report from Unicorn Riot showing police raiding the indigenous people's camp; several of their reporters have been arrested. Video from Dallas Goldtooth showing a water protector wounded from shrapnel from a concussion grenade, pepper spray into a group of protectors, and the arrest of tribal councilwoman Casey Camp-Horinek as she stood in prayer. Livestream from indigenous journalist Atsa E'sha Hoferer showing police raiding the camp.

This brutal crackdown occurred just weeks after private security forces went after water protectors with pepper spray and attack dogs. Democracy Now reporter Amy Goodman and her crew were on the scene to record events. Officials charged Goodman with conspiracy and rioting; the judge dismissed all charges.

Our demand

North Dakota Governor Dalrymple has abused the power of his office by falsely creating the appearance of violence and chaos in order to protect the private interests of a pipeline company. We demand that the National Governors Association and EMAC end Dalrymple's implimentation of the EMAC including the federal implementation of law enforcement and resources at the Standing Rock protest for the sole benefit of a private business, and to the complete detriment of the very humans that live on the reservation.



