Is this silence the sound of the future cries of injustice by the
American People?
Talk of revolution? It ain't gonna happen!
Carl Jarvis
On 2/25/17, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Democrats Silent as Trump Crushes Dakota Access Pipeline Protest
Campers set structures on fire in preparation of the deadline to leave the
protest camp on February 22 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. (photo: Stephen
Yang/Getty)
Campers set structures on fire in preparation of the deadline to leave the
protest camp on February 22 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. (photo: Stephen
Yang/Getty)
Democrats Silent as Trump Crushes Dakota Access Pipeline Protest
By Michael Sainato, Observer
24 February 17
block quote
Where is the party when protesters need them the most?
block quote end
On February 21 and 22, the Morton County Sheriff's Department evacuated the
remaining water protectors
protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline
at Standing Rock. Though several
Democrats
praised the Army Corps of Engineers' decision on December 4 to conduct an
environmental impact assessment, they have been silent on the issue since
construction
of the pipeline has moved forward under the
Trump administration
. The decision to stop the pipeline is now in the hands of the courts, as
the Standing Rock Sioux tribe attempts to force the Army Corps of Engineers
to
enforce their December 4, 2016, decision.
The water protectors at Standing Rock faced a barrage of smear campaigns
from the Morton County Sheriff's Department and companies in charge of the
pipeline construction. At the behest of pipeline security, they were
attacked
by dogs, pepper sprayed, tear gassed and hosed with water in subfreezing
temperatures. Some protectors suffered severe injuries, including a
21-year-old
girl who nearly lost her arm due to police throwing a concussion grenade at
the peaceful protesters. Nevertheless, the
Democratic establishment
failed to acknowledge the protests. The
mainstream media
largely avoided the conflict as well, basing their limited coverage on the
issue solely on law enforcement sources. Throughout the water protectors'
protests,
establishment Democrats
stood up for Standing Rock only after a small victory was achieved.
The Democrat Party, an ostensible ally, continuously offers weak opposition
to the Republican Party and corporate powers that oppress and infringe on
human
rights.
The Democratic establishment's
resistance to Trump ignores his policies that don't provide political
expediency, like the Dakota Access Pipeline. Though the battle against the
pipeline
lasted months, very few Democrats spoke out.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard were the greatest opponents of the pipeline. Supposedly
progressive icon
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
, who claims Cherokee heritage, largely ignored the issue-apart from
December 4, 2016, when she tried to take credit for the protesters' small
victory.
The Democratic Party not only needs to mobilize against Trump
-it needs to fight for marginalized groups, like Native Americans. But
instead, the
Democratic establishment
is trying to restore political power without making reforms. They continue
to partner with wealthy and corporate donors and refuse to join
progressives
on key issues.
Sanders has reiterated that the Democratic Party
cannot market the interests of billionaires and Wall Street while also
representing working class, middle class, and low income Americans.
Democrats
must choose a side. Unfortunately, when given the opportunity, they
consistently side with their donors, who are deeply invested in the Dakota
Access
Pipeline.
Democrats Silent as Trump Crushes Dakota Access Pipeline Protest
Campers set structures on fire in preparation of the deadline to leave the
protest camp on February 22 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. (photo: Stephen
Yang/Getty)
Campers set structures on fire in preparation of the deadline to leave the
protest camp on February 22 in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. (photo: Stephen
Yang/Getty)
go to original article
Democrats Silent as Trump Crushes Dakota Access Pipeline Protest
By Michael Sainato, Observer
24 February 17
block quote
Where is the party when protesters need them the most?
block quote end
n February 21 and 22, the Morton County Sheriff's Department evacuated the
remaining water protectors
protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline
at Standing Rock. Though several
Democrats
praised the Army Corps of Engineers' decision on December 4 to conduct an
environmental impact assessment, they have been silent on the issue since
construction
of the pipeline has moved forward under the
Trump administration
. The decision to stop the pipeline is now in the hands of the courts, as
the Standing Rock Sioux tribe attempts to force the Army Corps of Engineers
to
enforce their December 4, 2016, decision.
The water protectors at Standing Rock faced a barrage of smear campaigns
from the Morton County Sheriff's Department and companies in charge of the
pipeline construction. At the behest of pipeline security, they were
attacked
by dogs, pepper sprayed, tear gassed and hosed with water in subfreezing
temperatures. Some protectors suffered severe injuries, including a
21-year-old
girl who nearly lost her arm due to police throwing a concussion grenade at
the peaceful protesters. Nevertheless, the
Democratic establishment
failed to acknowledge the protests. The
mainstream media
largely avoided the conflict as well, basing their limited coverage on the
issue solely on law enforcement sources. Throughout the water protectors'
protests,
establishment Democrats
stood up for Standing Rock only after a small victory was achieved.
The Democrat Party, an ostensible ally, continuously offers weak opposition
to the Republican Party and corporate powers that oppress and infringe on
human
rights.
The Democratic establishment's
resistance to Trump ignores his policies that don't provide political
expediency, like the Dakota Access Pipeline. Though the battle against the
pipeline
lasted months, very few Democrats spoke out.
Sen. Bernie Sanders and
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard were the greatest opponents of the pipeline. Supposedly
progressive icon
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
, who claims Cherokee heritage, largely ignored the issue-apart from
December 4, 2016, when she tried to take credit for the protesters' small
victory.
The Democratic Party not only needs to mobilize against Trump
-it needs to fight for marginalized groups, like Native Americans. But
instead, the
Democratic establishment
is trying to restore political power without making reforms. They continue
to partner with wealthy and corporate donors and refuse to join
progressives
on key issues.
Sanders has reiterated that the Democratic Party
cannot market the interests of billionaires and Wall Street while also
representing working class, middle class, and low income Americans.
Democrats
must choose a side. Unfortunately, when given the opportunity, they
consistently side with their donors, who are deeply invested in the Dakota
Access
Pipeline.