Dakota Access Pipeline: Veterans build shelters for Standing Rock protesters

More than 2,000 vets have signed up with Veterans Stand for Standing Rock

Justin Carissimo

New York

Saturday 03 December 2016 16:33

(REUTERS)

Military veterans are building shelters to house protesters at the Standing Rock reservation on Friday to help support the ongoing demonstrations against the multibillion dollar Dakota Access Pipeline project.

More than 200 veterans are also following through with their promise to act as human shields to protect protesters from authorities who have become violent in recent weeks injuring hundreds of activists in the frigid weather.

If the 1,172-mile-long pipeline is completed, it would send 470,000 barrels of crude oil under the Missouri River each day. A leak could contaminate the Sioux community’s drinking water supply.

Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock

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1/11Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock

Veterans have a confrontation with police on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9M

REUTERS

Veterans walk towards the police barricade on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S. December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9D

REUTERS

A man holds up a traditional drum during a confrontation between veterans and police on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9E

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Veterans walk towards the police barricade on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9J

REUTERS

Veterans have a demonstration on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9N

REUTERS

Veterans have a demonstration on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9O

REUTERS

Veterans have a confrontation with police on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9V

REUTERS

Trek Kelly of Venice Beach, California, stands with veterans who oppose the Dakota Access oil pipeline on Backwater Bridge near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester - RTSUF7J

REUTERS

Korean War veteran George Martin, 80, an Ojibwe tribe from Hopkins, Michigan, stands with veterans who oppose the Dakota Access oil pipeline on Backwater Bridge near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester - RTSUF7U

REUTERS

Korean War veteran George Martin, 80, an Ojibwe tribe from Hopkins, Michigan, stands with veterans who oppose the Dakota Access oil pipeline on Backwater Bridge near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., November 2, 2016. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester - RTSUF8F

REUTERS

Phyllis Young (C) of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe talks with veterans who oppose the Dakota Access oil pipeline and local law enforcement on Backwater Bridge near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester - RTSUF8I

REUTERS

Over 2,000 vets have signed up with the Veterans Stand for Standing Rock group on Facebook and more volunteers are expected to join the demonstrations over the weekend.

On Friday night, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced that the Department of Justice has been in constant talks with both sides hoping to reduce tensions. Meanwhile, the transition team with President-elect Donald Trump said on Thursday that he fully supports the completion of the project.