Sen. Hedi Heitkamp (D) North Dakota

Sen. Hedi Heitkamp (D) North Dakota

Washington, DC.  (CSi)   U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp Monday issued the following statement following protests Sunday night regarding the Dakota Access pipeline.

“Having spent several hours Sunday night at the Morton County Law Enforcement Center as the protests unfolded, it’s clear these dangerous altercations are a formula for disaster going forward. Safety is of the utmost importance, and it’s imperative that it remain the top priority for all of those involved in these protests,” said Heitkamp. “Any protestors should be able to exercise their First Amendment right lawfully and peacefully, but many of the actions we have seen over the past several weeks are not those of lawful protestors and they pose serious safety concerns to other protestors — especially as the temperatures drop — and law enforcement officers, as well as to children, residents, and workers trying to live their lives in their communities. Additionally, I have repeatedly spoken with the Army Corps and White House and called on them to set a date for when a decision will be made on the easement, and have been continuing to work with the federal delegation and governor in a bipartisan effort to push for more federal resources for law enforcement. As North Dakotans, we know how to work peacefully to find resolution, and I believe and hope that is still possible here.”

For the past several months, Heitkamp and her staff have been meeting regularly with local law enforcement, land owners, workers, and residents about the Dakota Access pipeline protests. She has had continued conversations with the White House, Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Justice, and U.S. Department of Interior to push for a final decision on the easement going under Lake Oahe. She has also been working in a joint effort with the federal delegation and Governor Jack Dalrymple to push for federal funds to provide law enforcement with needed resources to support public safety during the ongoing demonstrations.