Veterans and Activists Defend Standing Rock Protesters
The Standing Rock protests began in April of 2016 in response to the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Reservation. While the protests remained peaceful, a mix of police, National Guard, and private security forces responded with violence, attempting to repress protesters. In response, the protesters shared footage of the violence across the internet. As the videos went viral, a wide coalition of actors – ranging from veterans to environmentalists or social justice activists – mobilized to defend the protesters and their cause.
In addition to raising funds to sustain the protests, new people showed up to the protests, adding numbers and legitimacy. They maintained fires for warmth and used their bodies to defend the indigenous groups. Most importantly, rather than taking over the movement, the newcomers ceded leadership to tribal leaders, recognizing that as new members, they were best suited to a support role.
The presence of the newly mobilized coalition was able to halt further violence and even cause the Army to temporarily halt their project – a major success and clear example of backfire.