Tempers Flare During Protest Against the Dakota Access Pipeline

Alan Taylor
September 6, 2016
23 Photos
In Focus

In south central North Dakota, members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe have been joined by hundreds of other Native Americans and supporters in a protest against the ongoing construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), a $3.8 billion oil pipeline meant to carry crude oil from the Bakken oil fields through the Dakotas and Iowa, to Illinois. Over the weekend, protesters were attacked by dogs and sprayed with pepper spray after clashing with private security contractors at a site being bulldozed for the DAPL, which—according tribal officials—was damaging burial and cultural sites. The tribe and its allies have been battling the pipeline construction on the ground and in the courts, fearing not only destruction of sacred cultural sites, but the endangerment of their water supply should an oil spill ever occur.

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Native American protesters and their supporters are confronted by security during a demonstration against work being done for the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) oil pipeline, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. Hundreds of Native American protesters and their supporters, who fear the Dakota Access Pipeline will pollute their water, forced construction workers and security forces to retreat and work to stop. #

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Protesters clash with private security guards at a work site for the Dakota Access Pipeline near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. #

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A protester shouts at private security guards and workers at a work site for the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 3, 2016. #

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Native American protesters and their supporters are confronted by security during a demonstration against work being done for the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 3, 2016. #

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Protesters and their supporters are confronted by security with guard dogs during a demonstration against work being done for the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 3, 2016. #

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Private security contractors with guard dogs confront protesters on land being graded for the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 3, 2016. #

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Protesters on horseback gallop away after members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and their supporters confronted a bulldozer crew and a private security team near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota on September 3, 2016. #

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Protesters hold up their arms as they are threatened by private security guards near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. #

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Native American protesters are confronted by security during a demonstration against work being done for the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 3, 2016. #

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A guard dog held by a private security contractor barks at protesters on land being graded for the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 3, 2016. #

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Protesters scuffle with private security contractors (center, in black and brown baseball caps) during a demonstration on land being graded for the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 3, 2016. #

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A protester is treated after being pepper-sprayed by private security contractors during a protest near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. #

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Native Americans march to a sacred burial ground site that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline, on September 4, 2016 near Cannon Ball, North Dakota. #

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Nantinki Young of the Rosebud Sioux tribe, the head cook supervising all the kitchens poses for a photograph at an encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 3, 2016. #

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People stand with flags against the backdrop a crescent moon after sunset at an encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 3, 2016. #

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People gather at an encampment by the Missouri River, joining the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. #

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People sign a teepee with words of support for protesters at an encampment near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. #

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Protestors march to a construction site for the Dakota Access Pipeline to express their opposition to the pipeline on September 3, 2016. #

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This picture taken on September 3, 2016 shows makeshift tents at an encampment where hundreds of people have gathered to join the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe's protest against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. #

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Young protesters hold signs in English and the Najavo language before the start of a march to a sacred burial ground site that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 4, 2016. #

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Native Americans march to a burial ground that was disturbed by bulldozers building the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 4, 2016. #

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Protesters stand on land being graded for the Dakota Access Pipeline on September 3, 2016. #

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Phil Little Thunder Sr attends an evening gathering at the protester's encampment near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on September 3, 2016. #

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