Coming home from a screening of 'End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock,' Waste Win Young heard that the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled against the water protectors critically injured by violent law enforcement at Backwater Bridge at Standing Rock. Although the court ruled in favor of law enforcement, Waste says it is important to realize the source of real power and keep going for future generations.
By Wasté Win Young
Lakota, Standing Rock
Censored News
November 2023
The showing of the documentary “End of the Line” in Sewanee, Tennessee was probably the most emotional response I’ve witnessed and felt. A lot of people came up to me afterward and they were visibly crying. One young woman couldn’t talk and I hugged her for a long time. She said that she and her mom had gone camping in North Dakota and drank water from the Missouri River.
A lot of the youngins in college had never even heard of NoDAPL. There was an anthro professor who was so moved. He said he showed his class the documentary last year as well. I felt the love and am beyond thankful. I told them that they could help by submitting comments for the DAPL environmental impact statement.
I think my spirit needed this as much as they needed it because yesterday as I got home, I got the word that the Eighth Circuit ruled against water protectors in Dundon.
This is no surprise in the court of the colonizer — two of the three judges were appointed by Trump. One judge was sleeping during the arguments. Smh. Houwn I really cried…
Despite these decisions made by white men who think they are the law and that their say is final — it is not.
It never will be.
I know we have to keep going, that we persevere for our takojas and future generations. Even on the days when I wanna curl up and sob dramatically with my mom and dad or lay in bed with my kids and dogs all day.
I know that there will be justice for our people and allies in this world and the next.
Blíhíčiya — take courage. We keep going
Waste Win Young, Lakota of Standing Rock, North Dakota, previously served as Standing Rock's Historic Preservation Officer and is a graduate of the University of New Mexico Law School. She is a leading voice for the rights of water in the resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Previous: Federal Court Rules in Favor of Violent Cops at Backwater Bridge, Censored News
Water protectors suffered critical injuries while seeking to protect the water and Missouri River, and halt the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota. However, the federal appeals court ruled against them in the class action, civil rights lawsuit which revealed excessive force by law enforcement.
EIS COMMENTS
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeks comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Dakota Access Pipeline.
End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock
1 comment:
End of the line is not the end to the fight. Paramilitary from Tigerswan were used as support by Dapl against Native Americans and the US citizens while protecting reservation lands and public water in direct violation of constitutional protections guaranteed to all people living in the US.
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