Morton County, ND – Early on Saturday, October 22nd, water protectors from the camps near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation blockaded roads by locking themselves to cars and set out on foot to confront construction that threatens to destroy more sacred burial sites.

[Updated as of 10.23.2016 – 6:35 p.m. CDT]

The sun rises as large crowd of water protectors marches from camp towards DAPL construction encroaching on ancient burial sites. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/tgQPLsDy7c — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

Unicorn Riot was on the ground documenting and providing live streaming coverage.

#Breaking: Water protectors march onto Dakota Access work site 2 miles from Standing Rock reservation. Lockdown already in place. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/jBYeqHUCVy — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

A total of 127 people were arrested in relation to Saturday’s events, including a Unicorn Riot journalist. Below is video shot before the mass arrests, showing heavily armed police macing the crowd of peaceful water protectors.

More video from the arrests is seen at the bottom of this post, in order of the morning events.

Current scene at Dakota Access Pipeline work site in Morton County, North Dakota. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/AcoZcQ6J7n — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

Today’s arrest of a Unicorn Riot journalist marks the fifth time one of our journalists has been targeted and arrested for documenting actions around #NoDAPL.

Heavily armed riot police w/ MRAP maced non-violent #NoDAPL water protectors and made ~30 arrests, including a Unicorn Riot journalist. pic.twitter.com/vJYPdvnmor — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

Dakota Access Pipeline construction has continued with construction despite the September 9 request from the federal government to suspend construction within 20 miles east and west of Lake Oahe.

In a location separate from the mass arrests, images shared by police show water protectors locked down to a car before the sun rose, which seems to have been left inoperable in order to block a Dakota Access work site.

Later in the morning, as water protectors neared the area, dozens of riot police were guarding the construction site, which is about five miles away from the encampments.

Estimated 100 riot police with Bearcat guarding DAPL site. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/0wqtYliBcC — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

Private security vehicles were observed backing up as the water protectors approached the construction site.

Private security vehicles backing up as march of water protectors approaches. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/vVY5sUV1Il — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

DAPL security guards were watching from hill as water protectors marched towards the burial grounds close to ongoing construction.

DAPL security watching from hill as water protectors continue to advance towards pipeline site near burial grounds #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/N126xbAozQ — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

Pipeline construction has very recently moved two miles closer to the Standing Rock reservation.

March of water protectors approaching DAPL construction which in last day or so has moved two miles closer to Standing Rock. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/UZlw40EaEb — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

As water protectors neared the DAPL construction site, riot police were observed lining up at a fence while a helicopter circled low overhead.

Helicopter circling extremely low as water protectors prayer walk nears DAPL site. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/Ojb3i5aok7 — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

Riot police line up at fence to DAPL site as water protectors approach. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/DaO9jEilPG — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

~9:30a.m.: as #NoDAPL water protectors drew nearer to site of construction, riot police were observed holding batons pic.twitter.com/sA3wrUtnOj — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

Around 10:30 a.m. CDT, water protectors were being kettled by riot police, including Unicorn Riot journalist Lorenzo.

~9:40 a.m. CST: #NoDAPL water protectors on prayer walk kettled and arrested near burial grounds, including @UR_Ninja journalist Lorenzo. pic.twitter.com/Hm39LjOWUl — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

Approximately half of the original group was arrested. There were reports coming from those arrested that police maced the crowd and violently detained people.

Morton County Sheriff says they're charging individuals that were arrested this AM w/ "criminal trespass and engaging in a riot". #NoDAPL — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 22, 2016

As the group of water protectors and journalist was kettled, a police officer with a large red canister of mace is seen in the video below spraying people after yelling “you’re all under arrest“.

Today there was yet another overly aggressive response from police against peaceful Water Protectors. I was fortunate… Posted by Rob Wilson Photography on Saturday, October 22, 2016

Another video from the mass arrest show the police making violent take-downs of peaceful water protectors and arresting them.

https://www.facebook.com/IndigenousLifeMovement/videos/10153559675327255/

In a press release, the Morton County Sheriff claims that a water protector allegedly grabbed a can of pepper spray off an officer’s belt and maced the officer in the face, forcing officers to mace the crowd. We have reviewed footage taken at the scene and spoken with many eyewitnesses, including our own reporter, and have yet to find any information to verify this claim by the Sheriff. We spoke over the phone with Morton County Sheriff Public Information Officer Donnell Preskey and asked if any photo or video evidence exists to support the claim that a water protector stole mace from law enforcement and maced and officer. Preskey cited “officers’ reports” as evidence, and when asked for photo/video proof she replied “we’re not on the scene taking videos of what happened.” Eyewitnesses including our reporter who was present say they remember several law enforcement cameras being active around the time of this alleged incident.

We will continue to update as more information becomes available.

Below is the livestream of some of the action.

Unicorn Riot will continue to regularly provide direct updates about resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Follow our media on Twitter, Facebook, and our website for more information surrounding the ongoing struggles against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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Unicorn Riot’s early summer reports of the anti-Dakota Access Pipeline struggle:

March 29th, “Tribal Citizens Prepare to Blockade Bakken Oil Pipeline“; April 3rd, “Tribal Citizens Build Camp in Path of Oil Pipeline“; May 5th, “Sacred Stone Camp Resists Dakota Access Pipeline“; and May 27th, “Dakota Access Pipeline Blockade Enters 2nd Month“.

Our coverage of #NoDAPL from August 2016 until present:

August 2016

September 2016

October 2016