Video: #NoDAPL Tribal Leader Says “That Pipeline Had Every Right to Go Through”
Dave Archambault II, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, waits to give his speech against the Energy Transfer Partners' Dakota Access oil pipeline during the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland September 20, 2016. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
This quote from Standing Rock Sioux chairman David Archambault is from a couple of days ago, but a reader just flagged it for me today. I’m posting it now because it is a very, very interesting comment.
For context, the KFYR article is about the #NoDAPL protest camps getting news that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers won’t be issuing an easement for the pipeline to cross the Lake Oahe reservoir. The quote is Archambaut congratulating the protesters (emphasis mine):
Chairmen Dave Archambault thanked those who have joined the movement.
“That pipeline had every right to go through but because of the support that we have and the people who gather and are a part of this, we are able to build enough noise to help America understand,” Archambault said.
Protesters admit this fight may not be over.
“We’re slowly getting there, winning this thing but there’s going to be a few battles to go through to win this,” said Maurine Archambault, Standing Rock.
Here’s video of his comments.
Archambault is admitting in pretty direct way that the pipeline is legally justified and that the delays for the Obama administration are political in nature. A response to a very aggressive – at times even violent and unlawful – protest movement.
When a pipeline is blocked because some established bit of statute or policy prohibits it, that’s the rule of law.
When a pipeline is blocked because a bunch of political zealots assemble to throw rocks and light fires and generally carry on, that’s mob rule.
We want the former, not the latter
Did Archambault just slip in his words? If so, it was a revealing slip.
