Above Photo: Tom Stromme
The protest movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline for the first time was brought right up to the state Capitol steps and, later, just yards away from the governor’s front doorstep.
More than 15 people were arrested Thursday evening among a group of clergy and other protesters who staged a demonstration on the North Dakota state Capitol grounds in opposition to the multi-billion dollar project. The demonstration brought the number of arrests to at least 425 since August.
It was one individual who was arrested and later released during a brief rise in tensions in front of the governor’s residence, however, that brought the demonstration to a conclusion that satisfied the group.
“The power of prayer is powerful,” Eric Poemoceah of Lawton, Okla., said after being released by police.
Poemoceah was among about 60 protesters that included a large number of clergy that arrived at the Capitol shortly after 3:30 p.m. They later gathered along the sidewalk across the street from the governor’s residence along North Fourth Street.
Tensions mounted when a group of five protesters crossed Fourth Street and knelt down on the edge of the lawn of the governor’s residence, which was being guarded by dozens of riot gear-clad law enforcement. Protesters, who had been gathered singing gospel hymns and praying, looked on.
Multiple members of the group were arrested after law enforcement closed in on both them and the crowd across the street. After several warnings to disperse, Poemoceah was also arrested.
Clergy members negotiated with law enforcement to release Poemoceah in exchange for them to disperse immediately. After about 20 minutes he was released.
“This is not a safe area to demonstrate with that many people,” Bismarck Police Department Sgt. Jason Stugelmeyer said of the residential sidewalk area, adding that charges won’t be pursued against Poemeceah.
The protesters that allowed themselves to be arrested on the lawn of the governor’s residence, as well as at least one protester near the east entrance of the Capitol building, were charged with criminal trespass.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m. when the demonstration started, officers arrested 14 protesters that had sat down in a circle on the ground floor lobby of the judicial wing inside the state Capitol.
North Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Tom Iverson said those individuals were charged with disorderly conduct.
“They were given multiple chances to leave. There were a couple that passively resisted,” Iverson said.
The Capitol building was put on lockdown shortly before 4 p.m., however, state employees were free to leave, according to a Morton County press release.
About 70 people began the demonstration outside by gathering in a circle on the south side of the Capitol building, alongside the staircase and just below the governor’s office. They proceeded to engage in singing, praying and waving flags and holding banners with slogans of solidarity with the protesters camping down in Morton County.
Rick Ufford-Chase, co-director of Stony Point Center in Hudson Valley, N.Y., said he and several others began a two-day drive to North Dakota to join in the rally of clergy at the protest camps earlier on Thursday.
Ufford-Chase said he’d been following the events of recent months in opposition to the 1,172-mile, $3.8 billion pipeline project and the protest movement that’s grown near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation boundary.
Opponents of the project are concerned about the portion of the project planned to be bored under the Missouri River and the potential environmental damage if the line were to leak in the future. Numerous demonstrations have occurred at construction sites since August as well as a few that resulted in clashes with police.
“I was shocked along with thousands of people across the country,” Ufford-Chase said.
He was referring to last week’s clash on private property that resulted in 141 arrests near the protests camps. Officers used pepper spray and rubber bullets to clear the property, while some protesters burnt multiple makeshift barricades and threw objects at officers.
“This pipeline is no more than another example of the genocide of Native peoples,” Ufford-Chase said.
Jesse Lukes, a conservationist from Minneapolis, said the goal Thursday was to let the governor know that the voices of the tribal members and opponents need to be heard.
“In terms of government support we have none. The whole point for the movement is dinosaur energy is over,” Lukes said of oil and gas.
A spokesman for Gov. Jack Dalrymple said there was no official statement from the governor on Thursday’s events
The protest movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline for the first time was brought right up to the state Capitol steps and, later, just yards away from the governor’s front doorstep.
More than 15 people were arrested Thursday evening among a group of clergy and other protesters who staged a demonstration on the North Dakota state Capitol grounds in opposition to the multi-billion dollar project. The demonstration brought the number of arrests to at least 425 since August.
It was one individual who was arrested and later released during a brief rise in tensions in front of the governor’s residence, however, that brought the demonstration to a conclusion that satisfied the group.
“The power of prayer is powerful,” Eric Poemoceah of Lawton, Okla., said after being released by police.
Poemoceah was among about 60 protesters that included a large number of clergy that arrived at the Capitol shortly after 3:30 p.m. They later gathered along the sidewalk across the street from the governor’s residence along North Fourth Street.
Tensions mounted when a group of five protesters crossed Fourth Street and knelt down on the edge of the lawn of the governor’s residence, which was being guarded by dozens of riot gear-clad law enforcement. Protesters, who had been gathered singing gospel hymns and praying, looked on.
Multiple members of the group were arrested after law enforcement closed in on both them and the crowd across the street. After several warnings to disperse, Poemoceah was also arrested.
Clergy members negotiated with law enforcement to release Poemoceah in exchange for them to disperse immediately. After about 20 minutes he was released.
“This is not a safe area to demonstrate with that many people,” Bismarck Police Department Sgt. Jason Stugelmeyer said of the residential sidewalk area, adding that charges won’t be pursued against Poemeceah.
The protesters that allowed themselves to be arrested on the lawn of the governor’s residence, as well as at least one protester near the east entrance of the Capitol building, were charged with criminal trespass.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m. when the demonstration started, officers arrested 14 protesters that had sat down in a circle on the ground floor lobby of the judicial wing inside the state Capitol.
North Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Tom Iverson said those individuals were charged with disorderly conduct.
“They were given multiple chances to leave. There were a couple that passively resisted,” Iverson said.
The Capitol building was put on lockdown shortly before 4 p.m., however, state employees were free to leave, according to a Morton County press release.
About 70 people began the demonstration outside by gathering in a circle on the south side of the Capitol building, alongside the staircase and just below the governor’s office. They proceeded to engage in singing, praying and waving flags and holding banners with slogans of solidarity with the protesters camping down in Morton County.
Rick Ufford-Chase, co-director of Stony Point Center in Hudson Valley, N.Y., said he and several others began a two-day drive to North Dakota to join in the rally of clergy at the protest camps earlier on Thursday.
Ufford-Chase said he’d been following the events of recent months in opposition to the 1,172-mile, $3.8 billion pipeline project and the protest movement that’s grown near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation boundary.
Opponents of the project are concerned about the portion of the project planned to be bored under the Missouri River and the potential environmental damage if the line were to leak in the future. Numerous demonstrations have occurred at construction sites since August as well as a few that resulted in clashes with police.
“I was shocked along with thousands of people across the country,” Ufford-Chase said.
He was referring to last week’s clash on private property that resulted in 141 arrests near the protests camps. Officers used pepper spray and rubber bullets to clear the property, while some protesters burnt multiple makeshift barricades and threw objects at officers.
“This pipeline is no more than another example of the genocide of Native peoples,” Ufford-Chase said.
Jesse Lukes, a conservationist from Minneapolis, said the goal Thursday was to let the governor know that the voices of the tribal members and opponents need to be heard.
“In terms of government support we have none. The whole point for the movement is dinosaur energy is over,” Lukes said of oil and gas.
A spokesman for Gov. Jack Dalrymple said there was no official statement from the governor on Thursday’s events
The protest movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline for the first time was brought right up to the state Capitol steps and, later, just yards away from the governor’s front doorstep.
More than 15 people were arrested Thursday evening among a group of clergy and other protesters who staged a demonstration on the North Dakota state Capitol grounds in opposition to the multi-billion dollar project. The demonstration brought the number of arrests to at least 425 since August.
It was one individual who was arrested and later released during a brief rise in tensions in front of the governor’s residence, however, that brought the demonstration to a conclusion that satisfied the group.
“The power of prayer is powerful,” Eric Poemoceah of Lawton, Okla., said after being released by police.
Poemoceah was among about 60 protesters that included a large number of clergy that arrived at the Capitol shortly after 3:30 p.m. They later gathered along the sidewalk across the street from the governor’s residence along North Fourth Street.
Tensions mounted when a group of five protesters crossed Fourth Street and knelt down on the edge of the lawn of the governor’s residence, which was being guarded by dozens of riot gear-clad law enforcement. Protesters, who had been gathered singing gospel hymns and praying, looked on.
Multiple members of the group were arrested after law enforcement closed in on both them and the crowd across the street. After several warnings to disperse, Poemoceah was also arrested.
Clergy members negotiated with law enforcement to release Poemoceah in exchange for them to disperse immediately. After about 20 minutes he was released.
“This is not a safe area to demonstrate with that many people,” Bismarck Police Department Sgt. Jason Stugelmeyer said of the residential sidewalk area, adding that charges won’t be pursued against Poemeceah.
The protesters that allowed themselves to be arrested on the lawn of the governor’s residence, as well as at least one protester near the east entrance of the Capitol building, were charged with criminal trespass.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m. when the demonstration started, officers arrested 14 protesters that had sat down in a circle on the ground floor lobby of the judicial wing inside the state Capitol.
North Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Tom Iverson said those individuals were charged with disorderly conduct.
“They were given multiple chances to leave. There were a couple that passively resisted,” Iverson said.
The Capitol building was put on lockdown shortly before 4 p.m., however, state employees were free to leave, according to a Morton County press release.
About 70 people began the demonstration outside by gathering in a circle on the south side of the Capitol building, alongside the staircase and just below the governor’s office. They proceeded to engage in singing, praying and waving flags and holding banners with slogans of solidarity with the protesters camping down in Morton County.
Rick Ufford-Chase, co-director of Stony Point Center in Hudson Valley, N.Y., said he and several others began a two-day drive to North Dakota to join in the rally of clergy at the protest camps earlier on Thursday.
Ufford-Chase said he’d been following the events of recent months in opposition to the 1,172-mile, $3.8 billion pipeline project and the protest movement that’s grown near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation boundary.
Opponents of the project are concerned about the portion of the project planned to be bored under the Missouri River and the potential environmental damage if the line were to leak in the future. Numerous demonstrations have occurred at construction sites since August as well as a few that resulted in clashes with police.
“I was shocked along with thousands of people across the country,” Ufford-Chase said.
He was referring to last week’s clash on private property that resulted in 141 arrests near the protests camps. Officers used pepper spray and rubber bullets to clear the property, while some protesters burnt multiple makeshift barricades and threw objects at officers.
“This pipeline is no more than another example of the genocide of Native peoples,” Ufford-Chase said.
Jesse Lukes, a conservationist from Minneapolis, said the goal Thursday was to let the governor know that the voices of the tribal members and opponents need to be heard.
“In terms of government support we have none. The whole point for the movement is dinosaur energy is over,” Lukes said of oil and gas.
A spokesman for Gov. Jack Dalrymple said there was no official statement from the governor on Thursday’s eventsThe protest movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline for the first time was brought right up to the state Capitol steps and, later, just yards away from the governor’s front doorstep.
More than 15 people were arrested Thursday evening among a group of clergy and other protesters who staged a demonstration on the North Dakota state Capitol grounds in opposition to the multi-billion dollar project. The demonstration brought the number of arrests to at least 425 since August.
It was one individual who was arrested and later released during a brief rise in tensions in front of the governor’s residence, however, that brought the demonstration to a conclusion that satisfied the group.
“The power of prayer is powerful,” Eric Poemoceah of Lawton, Okla., said after being released by police.
Poemoceah was among about 60 protesters that included a large number of clergy that arrived at the Capitol shortly after 3:30 p.m. They later gathered along the sidewalk across the street from the governor’s residence along North Fourth Street.
Tensions mounted when a group of five protesters crossed Fourth Street and knelt down on the edge of the lawn of the governor’s residence, which was being guarded by dozens of riot gear-clad law enforcement. Protesters, who had been gathered singing gospel hymns and praying, looked on.
Multiple members of the group were arrested after law enforcement closed in on both them and the crowd across the street. After several warnings to disperse, Poemoceah was also arrested.
Clergy members negotiated with law enforcement to release Poemoceah in exchange for them to disperse immediately. After about 20 minutes he was released.
“This is not a safe area to demonstrate with that many people,” Bismarck Police Department Sgt. Jason Stugelmeyer said of the residential sidewalk area, adding that charges won’t be pursued against Poemeceah.
The protesters that allowed themselves to be arrested on the lawn of the governor’s residence, as well as at least one protester near the east entrance of the Capitol building, were charged with criminal trespass.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m. when the demonstration started, officers arrested 14 protesters that had sat down in a circle on the ground floor lobby of the judicial wing inside the state Capitol.
North Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Tom Iverson said those individuals were charged with disorderly conduct.
“They were given multiple chances to leave. There were a couple that passively resisted,” Iverson said.
The Capitol building was put on lockdown shortly before 4 p.m., however, state employees were free to leave, according to a Morton County press release.
About 70 people began the demonstration outside by gathering in a circle on the south side of the Capitol building, alongside the staircase and just below the governor’s office. They proceeded to engage in singing, praying and waving flags and holding banners with slogans of solidarity with the protesters camping down in Morton County.
Rick Ufford-Chase, co-director of Stony Point Center in Hudson Valley, N.Y., said he and several others began a two-day drive to North Dakota to join in the rally of clergy at the protest camps earlier on Thursday.
Ufford-Chase said he’d been following the events of recent months in opposition to the 1,172-mile, $3.8 billion pipeline project and the protest movement that’s grown near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation boundary.
Opponents of the project are concerned about the portion of the project planned to be bored under the Missouri River and the potential environmental damage if the line were to leak in the future. Numerous demonstrations have occurred at construction sites since August as well as a few that resulted in clashes with police.
“I was shocked along with thousands of people across the country,” Ufford-Chase said.
He was referring to last week’s clash on private property that resulted in 141 arrests near the protests camps. Officers used pepper spray and rubber bullets to clear the property, while some protesters burnt multiple makeshift barricades and threw objects at officers.
“This pipeline is no more than another example of the genocide of Native peoples,” Ufford-Chase said.
Jesse Lukes, a conservationist from Minneapolis, said the goal Thursday was to let the governor know that the voices of the tribal members and opponents need to be heard.
“In terms of government support we have none. The whole point for the movement is dinosaur energy is over,” Lukes said of oil and gas.
A spokesman for Gov. Jack Dalrymple said there was no official statement from the governor on Thursday’s events
The protest movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline for the first time was brought right up to the state Capitol steps and, later, just yards away from the governor’s front doorstep.
More than 15 people were arrested Thursday evening among a group of clergy and other protesters who staged a demonstration on the North Dakota state Capitol grounds in opposition to the multi-billion dollar project. The demonstration brought the number of arrests to at least 425 since August.
It was one individual who was arrested and later released during a brief rise in tensions in front of the governor’s residence, however, that brought the demonstration to a conclusion that satisfied the group.
“The power of prayer is powerful,” Eric Poemoceah of Lawton, Okla., said after being released by police.
Poemoceah was among about 60 protesters that included a large number of clergy that arrived at the Capitol shortly after 3:30 p.m. They later gathered along the sidewalk across the street from the governor’s residence along North Fourth Street.
Tensions mounted when a group of five protesters crossed Fourth Street and knelt down on the edge of the lawn of the governor’s residence, which was being guarded by dozens of riot gear-clad law enforcement. Protesters, who had been gathered singing gospel hymns and praying, looked on.
Multiple members of the group were arrested after law enforcement closed in on both them and the crowd across the street. After several warnings to disperse, Poemoceah was also arrested.
Clergy members negotiated with law enforcement to release Poemoceah in exchange for them to disperse immediately. After about 20 minutes he was released.
“This is not a safe area to demonstrate with that many people,” Bismarck Police Department Sgt. Jason Stugelmeyer said of the residential sidewalk area, adding that charges won’t be pursued against Poemeceah.
The protesters that allowed themselves to be arrested on the lawn of the governor’s residence, as well as at least one protester near the east entrance of the Capitol building, were charged with criminal trespass.
Shortly after 3:30 p.m. when the demonstration started, officers arrested 14 protesters that had sat down in a circle on the ground floor lobby of the judicial wing inside the state Capitol.
North Dakota Highway Patrol Lt. Tom Iverson said those individuals were charged with disorderly conduct.
“They were given multiple chances to leave. There were a couple that passively resisted,” Iverson said.
The Capitol building was put on lockdown shortly before 4 p.m., however, state employees were free to leave, according to a Morton County press release.
About 70 people began the demonstration outside by gathering in a circle on the south side of the Capitol building, alongside the staircase and just below the governor’s office. They proceeded to engage in singing, praying and waving flags and holding banners with slogans of solidarity with the protesters camping down in Morton County.
Rick Ufford-Chase, co-director of Stony Point Center in Hudson Valley, N.Y., said he and several others began a two-day drive to North Dakota to join in the rally of clergy at the protest camps earlier on Thursday.
Ufford-Chase said he’d been following the events of recent months in opposition to the 1,172-mile, $3.8 billion pipeline project and the protest movement that’s grown near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation boundary.
Opponents of the project are concerned about the portion of the project planned to be bored under the Missouri River and the potential environmental damage if the line were to leak in the future. Numerous demonstrations have occurred at construction sites since August as well as a few that resulted in clashes with police.
“I was shocked along with thousands of people across the country,” Ufford-Chase said.
He was referring to last week’s clash on private property that resulted in 141 arrests near the protests camps. Officers used pepper spray and rubber bullets to clear the property, while some protesters burnt multiple makeshift barricades and threw objects at officers.
“This pipeline is no more than another example of the genocide of Native peoples,” Ufford-Chase said.
Jesse Lukes, a conservationist from Minneapolis, said the goal Thursday was to let the governor know that the voices of the tribal members and opponents need to be heard.
“In terms of government support we have none. The whole point for the movement is dinosaur energy is over,” Lukes said of oil and gas.
A spokesman for Gov. Jack Dalrymple said there was no official statement from the governor on Thursday’s events.