September 22, 2016

CLEVELAND—The ACLU of Ohio stands with our affiliate in North Dakota in protecting the rights of the peaceful protesters at Standing Rock. The indigenous-led resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota has been a non-violent movement, and yet the governor has declared a state of emergency.

“Declaring a state of emergency against non-violent protesters creates one-sided public opinion, which garners support for these civil liberties violations,” said Christine Link, Executive Director of the ACLU of Ohio. “When peaceful protesting becomes a state of emergency, you know our civil liberties are at stake.”

ACLU of Ohio has long been committed to supporting and defending the rights of indigenous people and communities. We recognize the vital roles peaceful protest, nonviolent civil disobedience, and activism play in defending our civil and human rights. We stand with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, its allied indigenous nations, and supporters across the globe as they speak out against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. As such, we denounce any government suppression of the right to protest and militarized policing of protesters by the state of North Dakota.

“Indigenous people are protesting to protect their land--essentially their way of life-- and their dissent is protected by the Constitution,” Link said. ”This protest marks the unity of 200 tribes that have not stood together for more than 150 years. That should be the historic headline. Yet the headline is a reiterated history of government suppression of indigenous groups.”

We are calling on everyone to help us stand with Standing Rock. Sign our petition and tell Governor Dalrymple to demilitarize North Dakota’s response to peaceful protesters and protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. Ask him to stand down the National Guard; remove the highway checkpoint leading to protest encampments and the Standing Rock Sioux tribe’s reservation; and ensure state and county police do not appear at peaceful protest or nonviolent acts of civil disobedience in riot gear.

Sign the petition at https://www.acluohio.org/action/FreeSpeechPipeline

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