Listen: Sophia Wilansky's Case Before Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

Sophia Wilansky. Nov. 21, 2016

Listen: Today Federal Appeals Court Hears the Excessive Force by Law Enforcement at Standing Rock

By Brenda Norrell, Censored News, Dec. 16, 202

ST. PAUL, Minnesota -- The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals heard the case of Sophia Wilansky today in St. Paul, Minnesota. Wilansky's left arm was blown apart by an explosive fired by law enforcement at Backwater Bridge at Standing Rock on the night of Nov. 20, 2016. The MacArthur Justice Center filed the civil rights lawsuit, which names the law enforcement who fired at Wilansky, and those who gave the orders. 

Wilansky's attorney argued today whether she was fired on while obeying orders and dispersing. The argument focused on whether she was struck when she stopped to pick up a piece of plywood as a shield, or whether she was fired on before she stopped. Wilansky's attorney said law enforcement rapid-fired on her while she was running away. She was struck by a flash bang type explosive fired from a shotgun. Her attorney said law enforcement laughed at her after she was struck.

Lakota Nick Estes 'The Age of the Water Protector and Climate Chaos' Bioneers video

 

Nick Estes' talk at this year's Bioneers Conference is now online.

Nick Estes, Ph.D. (Kul Wicasa/Lower Brule Sioux), Indigenous Rights activist, scholar, writer, co-founder of The Red Nation organization and author of Our History Is the Future: Standing Rock Versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance, describes the Anishinaabe people’s resistance to the “Line 3” pipeline in Minnesota that would devastate their lands and livelihood, the outsized impact frontline Indigenous communities are having in fighting climate change and resisting extractive industries, the importance and effectiveness of Earth-centered approaches to fighting for Climate Justice, and the overarching goal of being “good ancestors of the future.”

This talk was delivered at the 2022 Bioneers Conference.

Nick Estes, Ph.D. (Kul Wicasa/Lower Brule Sioux), is Assistant Professor of American Studies at the University of New Mexico and a member of the Oak Lake Writers Society, a group of Dakota, Nakota and Lakota writers. In 2014, he was a co-founder of The Red Nation in Albuquerque, NM, an organization dedicated to the liberation of Native people from capitalism and colonialism. He serves on its editorial collective and writes its bi-weekly newsletter. Nick Estes is also the author of: Our History Is the Future: Standing Rock Versus the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Long Tradition of Indigenous Resistance.

Taos Water Protector is On Top of Drilling Rig -- and He's Live!

Buck Johnston is on top of a drilling rig near Taos, New Mexico, in defense of the water. Buck is broadcasting live and plans to stay 4 days. Watch: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100026931670155
Update Friday morning -- Buck survived the blizzard Thursday night. His bro, a fellow Warrior, climbed up the drilling rig to bring him a phone charger.
"That's the kind of action I'm trying to inspire," Buck said, a top the drilling rig on ancestral Pueblo land, in the pristine region now known as Taos.
Watch: https://m.facebook.com/FreeTaosPueblo/
Update Saturday: Buck remains atop the rig, after they cut away his hammock in the cold. Buck remains strapped to the rig in a Four Day Ceremony. Listen to report:
,https://m.facebook.com/story/graphql_permalink/?graphql_id=UzpfSTU3ODU5Mjc3NTpWSzoxMDE1NjE5OTEwOTU4Nzc3Ng%3D%3D
Update Monday: Buck has been released from jail and is with his family.

Taos Water Guardian Remains Atop Drill Rig

Defending Sacred Water, Protecting the Deep Aquifer

Article by Brenda Norrell
Censored News

Buck Johnston remained on top of a drilling rig near Taos, New Mexico, as a tipi went up on Friday in the prayer camp below him. A fellow Warrior climbed up the rig to bring Buck a cellphone charger and was arrested when he came down Friday.
The rig operator threatened to drop the rig with Buck on it and endanger his life. However, the women intervened and said they would rush the rig if this happened, and negotiated.
As of now, Friday night, Buck is continuing his commitment to remain until Sunday. Follow Buck's live broadcasts from on top the rig:
https://m.facebook.com/buck.johnston.31?tsid=0.0005563442174054689&source=result

Photo by Gera Brown

Below: Buck's words

Buck Johnston screen capture Censored News

Top photos via Facebook.