Thousands respond to call from Native leaders to mobilize on November 15th

Washington, DC — On November 15th, one week after the election, thousands of people will protest at President Obama’s Army Corps of Engineers offices across the country to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. The day of actions has been planned in response to a call from Native leaders at Standing Rock with the Indigenous Environmental Network, Honor the Earth, and other groups, following escalated responses from police and national guard. Last week, more than one million people showed support for Standing Rock on social media while Native people organizing in North Dakota face increased violent repression from militarized police. An updated list of actions and partner organizations can be found here<https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/nov-15-nodapl-day-of-action-at-army-corps-of-engineers>.

“For hundreds of years, the United States Army and Native people have been at odds,” said Tara Houska of Honor the Earth. “It’s time that we step forward and begin a new chapter together, one in which Indigenous rights are respected, our lands are respected, and our waters are respected by the United States Government.”

The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers “fast-tracked” the Dakota Access Pipeline approval process, neglecting tribal consultation and environmental review. President Obama’s administration intervened and stopped them from issuing the final permit, and is now proposing a reroute. Meanwhile, thousands of Native leaders have joined the camp at Standing Rock to stop the pipeline, emphasizing its destructive impact on land, water, and the climate.

“This is a call for all of our relatives who’ve been wanting to support,” said Dallas Goldtooth of the Indigenous Environmental Network. “Whether you’ve come to the camp, whether you haven’t come to the camp. If you live near an Army Corps of Engineers office, we’re asking you to step up to mobilize. We’re asking you to come out in numbers and not only let the Army Corps of Engineers hear your voices, but let the Obama Administration hear your voice. We need sincere action in order to stop this pipeline.”

More than 100 actions across the country have been planned for November 15th. Non-Native allies like 350.org<http://350.org>, CREDO, Bold Alliance, Greenpeace USA, National Nurses United, Rainforest Action Network, Oil Change International, STAND, Our Revolution, Center for Popular Democracy, Sierra Club, Food & Water Watch and many others are rallying in solidarity with Indigenous leaders at Standing Rock to support this day of action.