Gathered around the drum, those present united together in song and prayer, with hopes of making a difference. Dustin White photo.

Dustin White
Editor

As the sun rose on Monday morning, opponents of the Dakota Access Pipe Line were busy assembling in peaceful protest. Men, women and children gathered together as one nation, with the hopes of preventing a future devastation not only to the Standing Rock Reservation, but all those along the Missouri River. For them, the Dakota Access Pipe Line needed to be halted.

Set up to separate those protesting from law officials, a cement barricade had been placed earlier in the day. Yet, during that mornings prayer songs, all came together, in respect, as officers removed their covers. A tone had been created, one focused around peace.



As the sun rose higher in the sky, the gathering continued to grow. Lining the highway, a string of cars stretched for more than a mile, as individuals drove in from South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, and a dozen other states. With the news quickly spreading, large groups of individuals were expected to arrive throughout the day, as well as the week.

While those gathered would come from many different backgrounds and areas of the country, one thing united them; the knowledge that without water, there is no life.

Crossing through the fence, protestors faced off against the heavy machinery, causing construction to be halted. Dustin White photo.

Crossing the Fence
Temperatures would soar into the 90s, and while agitations rose a bit with the heat, all worked to keep their cool.

Keeping an eye on the situation, organizers of the protest kept the message clear; peace was a center point. Violence would only set the protest back, and stood in opposition to what they were trying to achieve.

A balance would be set through the day. While a few arrests were made, they were largely planned, and meant to send a message and gain attention to the overall cause.

Yet, the situation would escalate a bit further. But instead of violence, acts of civil disobedience were pursued. Cutting a section of fence, a number of protestors would face off with the heavy machinery tearing into the earth.

The action would become a small victory. However, the victory also came at a price. Even though the act of crossing through the fence would result in a temporary halt to the construction of the pipeline, it also progressed the protest to a level that the organizers had not intended; private property had been destroyed.



Those on site would soon set to correct the situation, and in short work, the fence was repaired.

At the forefront of the protest were many youths, who were fighting against what they saw as a threat to their future. Dustin White photo

Peace
As the day progressed, the most common sentiment among those gathered was that they were looking for peace; violence was not a solution. Instead, they were ready for the long haul, to remain vigilant as long as the DAPL was being constructed.

While a quick and speedy solution to the situation was hoped for, it was also acknowledged that the fight would most likely drag on, both on the ground at the protest site, as well as in court.