Central ND News

On this day in 2017, the North Dakota Joint Information Center announced that the Highway Patrol had flown more in six months of Dakota Access protests than in four years and towed abandoned vehicles during cleanup. This announcement was made in a press release on March 16.

During the six months of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, the North Dakota Highway Patrol logged 612 flight hours, a total that would typically take four years to accumulate. The patrol conducted 241 flights with an average duration of 2.5 hours per flight. Additionally, authorities managed the removal of 44 abandoned vehicles from the Oceti protest camp, including 13 trucks, 12 cars, six flatbed trailers, three motorhomes, and various other equipment.

In 2016 and 2017, the Dakota Access Pipeline protests near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation drew thousands of participants, including Native American tribes and environmental activists. According to Chron, these protests aimed to halt the pipeline's construction due to concerns over potential water contamination and the destruction of sacred sites. These demonstrations led to hundreds of arrests and heightened national attention on indigenous rights and environmental protection.

The North Dakota State website reported that during the protests, the Morton County Correctional Center faced an influx of arrests exceeding its 42-inmate capacity. To manage this situation, temporary holding cells made of chain-link fencing were installed for mass arrest situations. These units were inspected and approved by the North Dakota Department of Corrections and provided detainees with access to bathroom facilities, meals, drinking water, and on-site medical staff.

According to the North Dakota State website, the North Dakota Joint Information Center operates around-the-clock coordinating emergency communications and resources with over 50 agencies, private enterprises, and volunteer organizations. It supports local jurisdictions in disaster response and emergency management efforts.