Native Americans and other protesters were on the receiving end of pepper spray and attack dogs as they attempted to slow construction of a pipeline they claim cuts through tribal land and burial grounds, reports the Daily Mail.

Protesters turned out Saturday in an attempt to halt the progress of the $3.8 billion oil pipeline that is cutting through their land and the property of others in southern North Dakota.

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A federal judge is expected to rule before September 9 on whether the Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners’ Dakota Access pipeline can continue through the land after the Army Corps of Engineers granted permits to the developers.

According to activists, the project that will destroy sacred sites and will have a negative impact on drinking water for thousands of members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. On Friday the tribe filed papers seeking a halt to the construction, stating they had found several sites of “significant cultural and historic value” in the pipeline’s path. According to a tribal spokesperson, they were only recently given access to the property to survey it.



But before the judge could rule, more than 200 protesters who showed up on Saturday and were greeted by private security with guard dogs and were attacked with several left bleeding and washing their eyes out after being pepper-sprayed.

In video, posted below, security personnel hired by the energy company to protect workers from harassment can be seen menacing protesters if when they got too close.

According to tribe spokesman Steve Sitting Bear, six people had been bitten by security dogs — including a young child — and at least 30 people were treated after being pepper-sprayed.

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A law enforcement spokesperson stated that during the protest four private security guards and two of the guard dogs were injured.

According to police, the protesters dispersed when they arrived.

Video and a sampling of pictures from the Sacred Stone camp below:

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the building company is using dogs against protesters in a sick effort to try and force them to comply. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/tWCRKA1vni — antonio (@antoniodelotero) September 4, 2016

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“Yes, that is the blood of peaceful protestors on this dog’s mouth.” – Sacred Stone Camp pic.twitter.com/WkIXPcX3xQ — Shadi Rahimi (@shadirahimi) September 4, 2016

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USA 2016. Mercenaries hired by Dakota Access use attack dogs against #NoDAPL protesters. Via @shadirahimi pic.twitter.com/rVJYDUJeVr — 💜 (@leahmcelrath) September 4, 2016

Here’a another pic of mercenary/dog formation at the worksite of Dakota Access Pipeline #NoDAPL h/t Tomas Alejo pic.twitter.com/dezbuuEUHT — Winnie Wong (@WaywardWinifred) September 4, 2016

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Builders of Dakota Access Pipeline brought in private security + rabid dogs. 6 were attacked. Horrifying. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/pTl60gsBLO — Winnie Wong (@WaywardWinifred) September 4, 2016

Native Americans are protesting the building of a pipeline that could threaten the area they inhabit. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/zccZESujX7 — antonio (@antoniodelotero) September 4, 2016