Shailene Woodley on Dakota Pipeline & Bernie or Bust — Complete Interview

Eric Byler (  / ericbyler  ) reports for TYT Politics:

"Water Is Life!" signs declared, as a coalition of Native Americans tribes and environmental justice organizations held a rally outside the Washington DC Federal District Court on August 24, 2016. At issue was the Dakota Access Pipeline, which was approved by the Army Corp of Engineers without proper consultation, plaintiffs argue, with the tribal government of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

Judge James Boasberg heard oral arguments for and against a preliminary injunction that would halt construction on the pipeline until its legality is decided. The Judge announced that he expected to rule on the motion by Sept. 9.

Tribal governments argued that the pipeline endangers the Missouri River, their only source of drinking water. Actress Shailene Woodley pointed out in her remarks that the Missouri is the source of water for 18 million other Americans.

Opponents of the pipeline have been occupying a construction site since April 1. Two weeks ago three dozen, young Americans ran to Washington DC from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in South Dakota to raise awareness for the issue.

Indigenous people led the fight to protect the environment all over the world, but for the first time in the United States, tribal governments standing side by side with one another and with grassroots environmental organizations.

Special thanks to Luke Thomas-Canfield for operating the camera during interviews in this report.