ITHACA, N.Y. — Dozens of people organized in the Ithaca Commons Tuesday night to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline on the global #NoDAPL Day of Action.

About 60 people stood in solidarity against the pipeline, which has garnered global outrage after plans showed that it would run through the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe sacred land.

According to NPR, “The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe opposes the pipeline because the route crosses sacred sites and burial places. They’re also concerned that if the pipeline ruptures it could pollute local drinking water.”

In the past few days, multiple reports state that the protests have turned violent.

CBS News is reporting that protesters have been pepper-sprayed and attacked by police dogs. Other reports claim that protesters have attacked security guards.

CNN reported that the the National Guard was put on standby this weekend at the site of protests in North Dakota. The move was enacted following a crucial court decision regarding the build.

The news site states:

First, a federal judge rejected the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s efforts to stop construction of the crude oil pipeline that would run from North Dakota to Illinois, saying the tribe failed to show “it will suffer injury that would be prevented by any injunction the court could issue.”
But later in the day, the Army and US Justice and Interior departments jointly announced they would stop — at least temporarily — pipeline work under a lake the tribe considers a crucial water source.
The company has since committed to completing the project, which would transport 470,000 barrels of crude oil a day.
Here are 12 photos from the protest in Ithaca Tuesday. (All photos by 14-year-old intern Sam Scott)

Jolene Almendarez

Jolene Almendarez is Managing Editor at The Ithaca Voice. She can be reached at jalmendarez@ithacavoice.com; you can learn more about her at the links in the top right of this box.