Standing rock

DAPL

Black Snake Killaz is the name of a fascinating documentary and a powerful movement. The Black Snake Killaz are a group of Native American activists who organized and protested against the construction of the Dakota access pipeline, a huge oil line that spans four states and 1,272 miles long. This pipeline was built directly on treaty land and put locals in the direct fallout of an oil disaster.

The Dakota access pipeline is an abomination, the company Energy Transfer Partners did not conduct an environmental impact study and ignored local concern and suggestions from former President Obama. The company’s lack of compassion was shown not only in a lack of proper preparation but also in the ways they interacted with protestors. The local Standing Rock Sioux tribe along with protestors were approached with violence and treated like criminals.

The company did not spare any expense in security and protection, bringing law enforcement officers from seven different states along with mercenary groups such as Tigerswan. The security approached the protestors with automatic rifles, armed vehicles and riot gear deploying tear gas, flash grenades and piercing sounds to subdue the protests. Their methods were cruel and out of proportion. A large number of protesters were permanently injured and arrested while some had warrants put out for them along with being doxxed and exposed.

Presidential action

The protests lasted from 2016 to 2017 and because 2016 was an election year two separate presidents were in office during the building and protests of the pipeline. Former president Barak Obama was the first in office and while he opposed the pipeline, he wasn’t effective in stopping or protecting citizens, although he spoke out against it multiple times but never took any action. The second president however was Donald Trump, and his approach was much different. As soon as he entered office, he used his presidential power to support the construction and bulk up law enforcement around the protest.

Donald Trump throughout his presidency has thrown environmental caution to the wind in favor of oil and or anything that will make him and his billionaire friends more money. His lack of understanding and complete disregard and lack of empathy have led him to cutting research funding, destroying environmental protections and withdrawing from organizations and treaties. His blatant disregard for the environment was shown clear as day in his first term and continues to present in his second term.

In the unicorn riot documentary, the company building the pipeline is shown reacting to the presidential election results celebrating Trump’s win with the knowledge that he was going to back their company no matter what. The president also gave his gratitude to the law enforcement officers that were working on the scene of the protest and thanked them for their hard work in dealing with the civilians. The Energy Transfer Partners hired mercenary groups working without legal documentation and welcomed thousands of officers to their cause. They showed their brutality as they marched down the protestors decorated in riot gear and deployed uncalled for tactics such as rubber bullets and tear gas. The president’s reckless support along with the cruel and vicious police officers show the loss of humanity and empathy among Americans and how quickly people will set aside logic and morals for money and power