Last month, one of President Donald J. Trump’s first actions in the White House was to formally approve the construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, paving the way for thousands of good-paying American jobs.
The two pipelines were delayed for years by the Obama administration, as the State Department refused to rule on the construction of the pipelines, but President Trump fulfilled a campaign promise within days of taking office.
Since last August, liberals and environmentalists have joined members of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation to protest the 1,170-mile Dakota pipeline which connects the oil producing areas in North Dakota to an oil terminal in Pakota, Illinois. They argue that a theoretical oil spill would contaminate the reservation’s water supply and damage sacred burial grounds.
Despite the liberal protests, the pipeline will be completed soon, and the protesters are required to leave a protest camp in southern North Dakota today.
That’s when they proved just how committed they are to protecting the environment:
From NBC News:
In what may be a final show of defiance, the last of the Dakota Access pipeline protesters set some of their tents and teepees ablaze Wednesday as the deadline loomed to depart their encampment near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation.
Calling it a “ceremonial act,” the remaining 300 or so pipeline opponents — down from the thousands at the height of the sometimes violent protests — set the structures ablaze as the camp leaders were informed that anybody still at the camp after 2 p.m. local time would be subject to arrest.
Thick black smoke billowed as snow fell on the remaining holdouts.
North Dakota officials, who say the demonstrators have to go because of the impending spring floods, have set up a travel assistance center and are providing bus fare, food and hotel vouchers to get them out of the area. The first buses from the camp to the city of Bismarck began rolling out at 9 a.m. CT.
But a huge police presence remained at the scene just in case the most hardcore protesters — who consider themselves “water protectors” — make a last stand.
#Breaking News: Protesters face 3pm ET deadline to vacate area around Dakota Pipeline https://t.co/u9cnCLPbLO pic.twitter.com/YVslsJNoyN
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) February 22, 2017
The pipeline is over 70% completed, and NBC News notes that the $3.7 billion project will create between 8,000-12,000 construction jobs and provide millions of dollars to local economies. Despite the pipeline’s numerous benefits to the U.S. economy, environmental activists have continued to protest, clashing with police on a regular basis:
In the months that followed, there were repeated clashes between demonstrators and police that left hundreds injured — as well as demonstrations across the country in solidarity, like the National Day of Action on Nov. 15.
Given the protesters’ repeated attacks on law enforcement officials, it should come as no surprise that the last day of their occupation would end in further violence and destruction.
How should officials respond to the continued acts of vandalism and destruction caused by protesters? Share your thoughts below!