I watched the vote on the XL pipeline yesterday on C-Span. After the final tally of 41-59 was announced signaling the failure of the "Protect Mary Landrieu Act" to break the 60 vote threshold. The audible singing from protesters in the gallery could be heard and warmed my heart. That traditional tribal tune came from Native American protesters that had gathered to protest the dire danger of this project on their lands and their people. As you can see from the above clip, Elizabeth Warren summoned the Sargent at Arms to restore order. Five of the protesters were removed from the gallery and had their hands cuffed with plastic zip-ties.

Red Power Media reports.



US Capitol Police officers dragged out five protesters, including Greg Grey Cloud of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe as he bellowed a tribal song. Grey Cloud, who wore a headdress, continued singing as he was knocked to the floor and pulled to the wall of the hallway. Protesters were handcuffed with plastic zip-ties while standing shoulder-to-shoulder, facing the wall. They were then paraded down a corridor and one of the protesters began singing again. The group was arrested for “disrupting Congress.” In response to the Nov. 14 House vote to authorize the Keystone XL pipeline, Rosebud Sioux Tribe President Cyril Scott announced that the tribe recognized the action as an act of war.



Pic: Protesters are taken away from the Senate chamber after chanting from the gallery following the Keystone vote. By Frank Thorp V/Twitter

EcoWatch expands on the story:

