The Veterans Stand group who once traveled to help shield water protectors at the Dakota Access Pipeline are headed back and raising funds again. Thus far, their GoFundMe campaign has raised $186,767 of its $500,000 goal. The funds raised will go toward supplies for the North Dakota protest camp, transportation of veterans to and from Standing Rock Indian Reservation, and operations.

Check out a post on their Facebook page and make sure to “friend” them for updates about what’s going on.

While people cautiously celebrated on December 5th because the US Army Corps of Engineers announced plans to find an alternative route for the pipeline, just a few weeks later President Trump signed an executive order to continue construction of the pipeline.
Michael Wood Jr., the founder of Veterans Stand, explained that their new efforts will be focused on supporting the camps as much as possible. He said, “It is unlikely that we will send a mass group of people like before. The biggest misconception is that Veterans Stand wants to do anything aggressive in response. People want to do something and they just don’t know what to do. We just want to give people a platform.”

Proponents of the pipeline say it’s the most cost-effective (and get this, “environmentally responsible”) way to move crude oil but indigenous tribes, environmentalists, and local residents are worried, and have been protesting its construction since last summer, because it will both cross sacred Sioux land and potentially contaminate the water supply for MILLIONS of people. (Don’t forget, the proposed route will cut across the Ogallala Aquifer, one of the world’s largest.)

Let us know if you decide to go and help at any of the camps and as always, if you feel led and are able, help out.
Source: CNN