On Friday, 12 officials wrote a letter to President Barack Obama, describing inaction by the federal government during the protests. It was signed by sheriffs and police chiefs from across the state, including Morton County, Minot, Fargo and Wahpeton.

“The federal government’s response to the events in our community has been appalling, and it is abundantly clear they have no interest in helping the citizens of North Dakota,” they wrote. “Frankly, our federal leaders should be ashamed of their lack of response to a dangerous crisis currently in progress on their own soil. Each day this lack of response continues only serves to empower criminal protesters and support lawlessness in the name of radical political agendas.”