Dakota Access Pipeline Protestors Shut Down

There has been much talk about the Dakota Access Pipeline in the news and on social media. But what it is? What is the controversy behind it? According to BBC News, the Dakota Access Pipeline is “a $3.7 billion (bn) (£2.8bn) pipeline is planned at nearly 1,200 miles (1,900 km) long to transport some 470,000 barrels of crude oil a day across four states, from North Dakota to a terminal in Illinois, where it can be shipped to refineries.” The reason it is so controversial is because the pipeline will run through an ancient burial ground made by the Standing Rock Sioux. Some are arguing that the pipeline is just above the burial site, and some Native Americans are arguing that the land was illegally taken from them by the United States in 1868. Also, the burial grounds isn’t a part of the Standing Rock Sioux’s reservation. The American government also didn’t consult any Native Americans before going with the plan of the pipeline.

Even though Mr. Trump cannot single handedly sign off on the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, he can strongly urge it, which he has through memos to his secretaries. In a recent memo to his secretary of commerce, he ordered that all steel and iron made in the United States needs to be used in the pipelines.

Protestors have been there every day for months, trying to halt the pipeline’s advances. However, on February 22, the Army Corps of Engineers’ now has a plan to shut down the protestor camp that has been around for nearly six months. According to the Independent, “The Corps has told those who remain in the Oceti Sakowin camp that they needed to leave by 2pm on Wednesday. Governor Doug Burgum, governor of North Dakota, listed the same time and date in an emergency evacuation order last week.”

Will the protestors actually be shut down? Will the pipeline’s plan continue forward?