Standing Rock

Indigenous communities fought back after the federal government allowed an oil company to build a pipeline near the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. The Sioux Tribe was not properly consulted, and the impact on their water and culture was not fully studied.

The pipeline project is a violation of Indigenous people’s human rights – and so is the excessive police response to protests against the project.

Amnesty International deployed several delegations of trained human rights observers to Standing Rock to monitor the police response to the protests, and we have mobilized thousands of people to call local and state officials to demand that they protect everyone’s human rights. We’re also calling on the federal government to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline project and to investigate claims of excessive police force.

This page has Amnesty International’s resources related to Standing Rock, including action alerts, letters to officials, background, and other material.

  • Sign a petition condemning President Trump’s decision to allow the pipeline to go forward
  • Email the local sheriff to ask him to respect the right to peaceful protest
  • Call the local sheriff to ask him to respect the right to peaceful protest

Background

  • Resource: Practices for law enforcement authorities policing protests
  • Resource: Know your rights to protest

Letter to relevant authorities and testimony

  • Letter asking Morton County State Attorney to drop charges against journalist Jenni Monet (May 3, 2017)
  • Letter asking North Dakota Attorney General to drop misdemeanor charges against water protectors (March 13, 2017)
  • Letter asking North Dakota Governor and Attorney General to protect human rights (March 13, 2017)
  • Testimony and recommendations to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (March 2, 2017)
  • Letter to North Dakota Governor regarding anti-protest bills (February 22, 2017)
  • Letter to North Dakota State Senators regarding anti-protest bills (February 10, 2017)
  • Letter to Acting Secretary of the Army (February 2, 2017)
  • AIUSA submission regarding the environment impact review (January 27, 2017)
  • Letter to North Dakota Supreme Court (December 23, 2016)
  • Letter urging President Obama to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline (December 2, 2016)
  • Letter concerning evacuation orders (December 2, 2016)
  • Letter asking U.S. Department of Justice to investigate law enforcement handling of protests (November 30, 2016)
  • Letter to Bismarck Police Department regarding arrests at Kirkwood Mall (November 28, 2016)
  • Letter to Morton County Sheriff regarding use of water cannon (November 21, 2016)
  • Letter to Morton County Sheriff about observer delegation’s access to protest sites (November 15, 2016)
  • Letter to Morton County Sheriff (November 4, 2016)
  • Letter to U.S. Department of Justice (October 28, 2016)
  • Letter to Morton County Sheriff (October 28, 2016)
  • Letter to Morton County Sheriff State Attorney (September 29, 2016)
  • Letter to Morton County Sheriff (September 28, 2016)
  • Letter to Governor, Highway Patrol and Morton County Sheriff (August 29, 2016)
  • Letter to North Dakota Highway Patrol (June 30, 2016)
  • Letter to Morton County Sheriff (August 24, 2016)

Press releases

  • Resumption of Dakota Access Pipeline Construction Violates Rights of Indigenous Peoples (February 7, 2017)
  • AI USA Responds to President Trump’s DAPL Executive Action (January 24, 2017)
  • Halting DAPL Should Be Just the First Step in Full Consultation of Indigenous Voices (December 4, 2016)
  • Justice Department Must Investigate Policing of Standing Rock Demonstrations (November 30, 2016)
  • Amnesty International USA to Monitor to North Dakota Pipeline Protests (October 28, 2016)
  • Authorities Must Protect Peaceful Protest Following Ruling on Dakota Access Pipeline (September 9, 2016)
  • “We have become a disposable people”: Why Amnesty went to Cannon Ball, North Dakota (September 1, 2016)
  • Amnesty International USA Calls on Authorities to Protect Peaceful Protest at Dakota Access Oil Pipeline Site (August 30, 2016)
  • Amnesty International USA to Observe North Dakota Pipeline Protests (August 24, 2016)
  • Police Must Protect the Right to Peacefully Protest Pipeline Construction in North Dakota (August 23, 2016)