Lakotas arrested halting Keystone XL pipeline trucks

[Luminous Animal]

MONDAY: March 5, 2012)
Lakotas on Pine Ridge Indian land in South Dakota are being arrested as they halt trucks of the Keystone XL pipeline from entering their territory. Lakota human rights activists Alex White Plume, Debra White Plume, Andrew Ironshell and others were reported arrested late Monday. They were taken to the jail in Kyle, S.D. Lakota grandmother Debra White Plume, just released from jail. See update: http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

An action alert was sent out shortly before the arrests: "Calling all Lakota men on the Pine Ridge Reservation to come to Wanblee, South Dakota. XL Pipeline trucks are being held there at the border by our Lakota Oyate, Oglala Sioux Tribal Police and State Troopers in an effort to keep them from entering our territory. Even the state troopers told the trucks they have to turn around and cannot bring their pipeline or other materials on to our reservation. The XL Pipeline trucks are refusing to turn around claiming they have corporate rights that supersede any other law."

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/brenda-norrell/2012/03/lakotas-arrested-halting-keystone-xl-pipeline-trucks

[RC]

1. "...corporate rights that supersede any other law."???

I thought Indian territories were sovereign to the tribe?
Oh, yeah, I forgot. A treaty with the US government is involved. Never mind.

Pine Ridge Reservation, huh? Where have I heard that before?

[prairierose]

2. I saw this several hours ago on...

my facebook feed from friends. I was hoping for an update. The tribe has gotten a restraining order against trans-canada moving pipe through the rez. Apparently trans-canada is trying to move pipe and equipment through the rez in order to avoid having to pay the fees for overweight trucks on state hiways. I suspect they are also trying to hide from environmentalists. The message I saw said that a judge was on the way to Kyle to release those who were arrested. Apparently, State troopers were part of the original roadblock but were forced to escort the trucks through the rez. I hope to find out more tomorrow.

Here is a link to a blog with the story and pictures from today.

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

[Luminous Animal]

3. Thank you.

[eShirl]

4. k&r

[eShirl]

5. link to the Action Alert thread in the late breaking news forum

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101468619