After being immersed in more than three months of protests and riots over the Dakota Access Pipeline in Morton County, N.D., I feel compelled to share a few general observations.
First, and most aggravating, the reasoning and stated positions of the protesters seem to have little to do with the citizens of Morton County, or even the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Perhaps they simply did no research, or chose to ignore the facts surrounding the pipeline.
But for many of these radical environmental groups and professional protesters who have come into our county, from everywhere from California to New York, the facts would have ruined a perfectly good protest opportunity. Most never met a protest they didn’t like, and they certainly never let the truth get in the way of their national environmental agenda.
The fundamental dishonesty of this current movement is only further enhanced by the fact that there are protesters being paid to participate in these disruptive and illegal activities.
Admittedly, there are many protesters who strive to genuinely engage in legal, peaceful and prayerful protest. Unfortunately, for many of their peers, this is not the case.
Protesters have rights, but so do the citizens of Morton County, including our farmers, ranchers and even our law enforcement personnel. One’s strong belief in a protest cause does not provide permission to trample on the rights, safety, property, freedom of movement and livelihood of all others. This is another fact many of these protesters seem to have forgotten or simply choose to ignore.
Setting fires to vehicles, construction equipment, grass prairies and bridges does not constitute peaceful or legal activity. Neither does inflicting lasting damage on the local economy by blocking railroad tracks, roads and streets, engaging in vandalism or interfering with basic government functions.
And of course, our citizens, local elected officials and law enforcement have been subjected to stalking, harassment and near-constant threats to them and their families. These all seem to contradict any semblance of legal, peaceful and prayerful protests.
As I have spoken to residents throughout Morton County, regardless of whether they support the pipeline or not, they all hold one common desire: that these radical, professional protesters who have taken over their community please leave.
All our citizens wish is to return to the daily routine of their lives. One where they don’t have to deal with constant road closures due to protester barricades, or hiding in stores along main streets while protesters flood downtown Bismarck or Mandan, N.D.
Recently, the tribal council of the Standing Rock Sioux voted unanimously to request that the most radical of the protester camps, the “Red Warrior” camp, leave the area.
Thus far, these out-of-state protesters have failed to comply.
At the same time, we on the Morton County Commission have had the great pleasure to meet law enforcement personnel from our state and other states who have been here to assist in efforts to keep everyone safe. They are as fine a group of people as I have ever met. Their professionalism and restraint in the face of difficult circumstances has amazed me. I salute these dedicated men and women.
The question I have for these out-of-state eco-tourists who are currently populating Morton County is this: Who are you standing with? It’s not the citizens of Morton County who only wish to get their lives back. It’s not the members of the Standing Rock Sioux, whose tribal council voted to ask the most violent protesters to leave.
So, who is it? I think I speak for most of the citizens of our county when I bluntly say that enough is enough. It’s time for the protesters to leave.
Bruce Strinden is vice-chairman of the Morton County Commission in North Dakota. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
