Rally in Solidarity with Standing Rock DAPL Water Protectors

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Nonviolent multigenerational rally in solidarity with the water protectors at Standing Rock in their opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.

ABOUT THIS EVENT: This is a coalition effort and many groups are promoting this rally. All peaceful people are invited to participate. We will gather in front of Wells Fargo (which was chosen as a site because it has nearly half a billion dollars invested in the pipeline).

WHY THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE IS A BIG DEAL: Female tribal elders ask women everywhere for support. The Standing Rock Sioux have opposed the pipeline (http://sacredstonecamp.org/resolution/)'s construction near the Sioux reservation on the grounds that it threatens public health/welfare, violates an important treaty, and directly threatens Native American cultural resources. Pipeline opponents - Native and otherwise - fear an oil spill (inevitable) will pollute major waterways including the Missouri River, and say construction will desecrate lands that tribes hold as sacred. What began as a small protest camp in April on the Standing Rock reservation has since morphed into an encampment of "Water Protectors" with thousands involved, including indigenous tribal people from all over America and even other countries. Over the past few months, the Sacred Stone Camp (https://www.facebook.com/CampOfTheSacredStone/about/?entry_point=page_nav_about_item&tab=page_info) has been the site of antagonistic face-offs between protesters and the oil company, including the recent turning of fire hoses on people in freezing weather, the spraying of tear gas and pepper spray onto protestors, and the shooting of concussion grenades into the unarmed crowd. Injuries are occurring.

READ HERE ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS PROTECTING THE LAND: http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2016/11/22/502068751/the-standing-rock-resistance-is-unprecedented-it-s-also-centuries-old

READ HERE ABOUT THE SPECIFIC TREATY VIOLATION: http://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/treaty-resonates-in-dapl-discussion/article_e9bd6a47-e14e-507e-bb0a-8ee29eb30c9e.html

WHAT TO BRING & WEAR: Signs are welcome. Bring water. If you have trouble standing, bring a small chair for yourself. Wear comfortable shoes. If you have/wear a red BLAST shirt, that will make it easier for us to recognize each other in the crowd.

COST: Free

TIME: Starts at 7pm and will go for a few hours.

PBC UNITED AGAINST TRUMP: Now is not the time for citizens to be passive. If you're on Facebook, join the PBC United Against Trump page. It lists progressive actions happening in Palm Beach County, and helps network all people who oppose the new Trump Hate Machine. (Unsurprisingly, Trump has anti-environmentalist policy positions and owns shares in companies invested in seeing this pipeline completed regardless of cost or environmental impact.)

LOCATION and PARKING: Google PARKING CLEMATIS WEST PALM to find parking garages close to the rally. When you look at the map, the rally is located on the corner of 1st and Olive.

FOR MORE ABOUT BLAST: Toni Jr. - toniajr@icloud.com

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