Lately, my social media newsfeeds have included various discussions about the Dakota Access Pipeline lawsuit. I will admit that I initially had no understanding of it, but I’ve recently committed myself to learning more about it.
While at NC State, I have had the opportunity to meet people from many different racial, cultural and economic backgrounds, and have even had the pleasure of becoming friends with many of these people.
These relationships have opened my eyes to issues that I may have otherwise not noticed. It is easy to get wrapped up in our day-to-day motions. Often we are blind to the issues that do not directly affect us. While I vaguely remembered hearing about the Dakota Access Pipeline lawsuit, it was not until I saw current and past NC State students discussing the topic that it felt relevant to me.
The Dakota Access Pipeline lawsuit has consisted of protests lasting several months long to fight against the four-state installation of multibillion dollar oil pipeline. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe are at the frontlines of this movement.
The pipeline is problematic for several reasons, but the one of the major concerns is that the pipeline could negatively affect the quality of water on Native American reservations.
Texas billionaire Kelcy Warren is the businessman behind the pipeline and the entire ordeal seems to be yet another instance of environmental racism, the act of disproportionately putting people of color in hazardous and harmful environments. Other examples of environmental racism include the serious water quality issue still extant in Flint, Michigan and the food deserts that exist in many urban areas.
Construction of the pipeline is quite grim. Thousands of miles of land have already been devastated — land that is steeped in cultural history for the Native Americans that call it home.
“What’s happening at Standing Rock is extraordinary and possibly transformative for Native American rights, Sioux history and the intersection of the climate movement with indigenous communities,” said environmental activist and historian Rebecca Solnit.
Across the United States, people are voicing their support and concern for the people that would be directly impacted by the pipeline. However, the frontlines of the protests have become a dangerous place for protesters: many have been attacked by security personnel and dogs.
The future proceedings of the Dakota Access Pipeline will be a very large issue in the United States. Many have heralded the pipeline for its potential to bring numerous jobs to our economy, but, far too often, our government has allowed the wealthy to exploit minority people in the name of boosting our economy. How much will be sacrificed? How far is too far? To the Sioux people of Standing Rock, the Dakota Access Pipeline represents blatant disregard for their sacred history and land — land that was stolen from them in the first place.
Combatting environmental racism is on all of us. Far too often, we leave these issues up to the people who are being impacted. Standing in solidarity with individuals facing injustice is necessary.
These issues may never affect you personally, but they affect our peers, our friends and our fellow citizens.
*Editor’s Note: The headline was altered after publication to better reflect the opinion expressed in the piece
