UW-Madison students, community members protest Dakota Access Pipeline

Demonstrations on campus continued Friday as around 200 students and community members gathered at Library Mall to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline.

According to Katya Com, Socialist Alternative member, the DAPL, a pipeline intended to transport crude oil from North Dakota to Illinois, was recently rerouted so it would go through Sioux lands that are considered sacred by many. She said the DAPL would not only impede on sacred tribal lands but also potentially pollute the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

“This is a battle that kind of resonates because historically, Native Americans have been oppressed in this country, and what’s at stake is the vital water source of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe,” said Oliver Ortega, Socialist Alternative member. “As non-native allies, it’s our job to stand up and to try to fight back against the powers that are trying to snake this pipeline across the land.”

The rally, which was organized by the Madison branch of Socialist Alternative, featured a variety of chants, including “Can’t drink oil, keep it in the soil” and “United we stand, divided we fall. An injustice to one is an injustice to all.” Speakers also took turns sharing their experiences with previous DAPL protests.

Activist Jessie Brown said she has made two trips to North Dakota. According to Brown, on her most recent visit, she served as a medic to DAPL protesters in Standing Rock who had been pepper-sprayed and shot with rubber bullets by police.

“To then allow a corporation to stomp on what is sacred to others, to stomp and then break treaties and not respect that, that’s absolutely unacceptable. We don’t stomp on other people's views and stuff, so why are we letting them?” Brown said.

Protesters then marched down State Street and turned down Gorham Street, ending in front of the U.S. Bank on East Campus Mall. According to Socialist Alternative, U.S. Bank is one of 17 banks funding the DAPL.

The second rally featured more speakers regarding anti-DAPL experiences, including seven-year-old Tolan Flores, who visited Standing Rock with his mother and led demonstrators at the rally in a social justice song.

Despite the distance between Standing Rock and Madison, all protesters said they hoped their efforts would raise awareness of the DAPL.

“You have to do what you can, where you can, and you cannot underestimate the power of the people,” Com said.