Tensions ease somewhat Monday at DAPL protest

Update…  CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) — Another potential clash between Dakota Access oil pipeline protesters and law officers over a disputed bridge in southern North Dakota on Monday, has eased.

The bridge on state Highway 1806 is near the protesters’ main camp. It’s been shut down for weeks because authorities say it might be unsafe due to earlier fires set by protesters. Protesters say the closed bridge blocks emergency services and their access to pipeline construction sites.

The two sides clashed overnight, with officers using tear gas, rubber bullets and water sprays against protesters they say assaulted officers with rocks and burning logs.

Protesters and police massed at the bridge again Monday morning. Protesters went back to the camp Monday afternoon at the request of Standing Rock Sioux elders, after reports of firearms in the crowd.

North Dakota’s state Capitol building is on a “soft lockdown” due to the protest against the Dakota Access oil pipeline, with the doors locked but members of the public being granted access if they have legitimate business.

The Highway Patrol provides security for the Capitol. Lt. Tom Iverson says the soft lockdown was put in place Monday due to protesters being in the Bismarck area. They’ve previously demonstrated at the Capitol.

Iverson says state workers can get into the Capitol with their security key cards. He says members of the public who have legitimate business are being granted access by officers staffing the entrances.

A small group of protesters briefly blocked traffic in downtown Bismarck on Monday morning.

Earlier….

CANNON BALL, N.D. (AP) — Authorities are defending their use of water hoses against Dakota Access oil pipeline protesters during a skirmish in below-freezing weather.

Morton County Sheriff’s spokesman Rob Keller says the water hoses were used to put out fires set by protesters and to keep protesters away from law officers during a violent clash that was “rapidly unfolding.”

The conflict between protesters and officers happened late Sunday and early Monday on a long-blocked bridge on state Highway 1806, near a camp where demonstrators have gathered for months.

Dallas Goldtooth with the Indigenous Environmental Network says at least 17 people were taken to hospitals, some with hypothermia.

Authorities say protesters assaulted officers with rocks and burning logs, and one officer was injured. One protester was arrested.

A man helping organize protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline says about 180 protesters were injured in the latest skirmish with police in North Dakota.

Protesters late Sunday and early Monday tried to push past a long-blocked bridge on state Highway 1806. They were turned back by law enforcement. Goldtooth says officers used water cannons in frigid weather, rubber bullets and pepper spray.

The Morton County Sheriff’s Department estimates 400 protesters sought to cross what’s known as the Backwater Bridge. It’s been closed for weeks because authorities say it might be unsafe due to earlier fires.

Authorities say protesters assaulted officers with rocks and burning logs.   At least one person was arrested.

Previously…

Facebook post by Morton County Sheriff’s Department:  9pm  Sunday November 20.

Law enforcement is currently (Sunday Nov 20) involved in an ongoing riot on the Backwater Bridge, north of a protest camp in Morton County.

Protesters in mass amounts, estimated to be around 400, are on the bridge and attempting to breach the bridge to go north on highway 1806. Protesters have started a dozen fires near the bridge.

Valley News Live was reporting:

“Law enforcement officers have formed a line north of the bridge to prevent protesters movement. As of 8:30 p.m. protesters were attempting to start multiple fires. Mandan Rural and Bismarck Fire Departments are on the scene,” according to the news release from the Morton County Sheriff’s department.

The Sheriff’s departments says that officers on scene are describing the protesters actions as aggressive and have “engaged in organized tactical movement and attempted to flank and attack the law enforcement line from the west.”

The sheriff office says in order to keep protesters from crossing the bridge, law enforcement have utilized less-than-lethal means, including launching CS gas.

The incident began around 6 p.m. Sunday evening, when protesters removed a truck that had been on the bridge since October 27th, when protesters set two trucks on fire. As of 8:30 p.m. one arrest has been made.

The website SayAnythingBlog has posted photos, video, and the Morton County Sheriff’s news release.