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Standing Rock Protesters Joined By Chicago Group

By Evan F. Moore | December 5, 2016 9:58pm
 Members of Pilsen Alliance went to North Dakota to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Members of Pilsen Alliance went to North Dakota to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline.
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Facebook/Pilsen Alliance

PILSEN — A group of Pilsen residents were among the thousands from across the country to stand in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in its protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline

The group of 20 people, which included members of the Pilsen Alliance and other residents from Pilsen and Little Village, raised over $3,500 for supplies and donations to support Native Americans protesting against the pipeline. The group traveled to North Dakota over the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Dakota Access Pipeline is a $3.7 billion project that would carry 470,000 barrels of oil a day from the oil fields of North Dakota to Illinois, where it would be linked with other pipelines.

Byron Sigcho, the director of the Pilsen Alliance, said the group decided to step in after seeing a similar struggle within Chicago's immigrant communities. 

"The fact that communities want to protect their land, water and families, we see that in Chicago," Sigcho said. "We thought it was important because we see some of the same issues here. We see people in communities brutalized and violated."

Native Americans and environmental activists claim that the pipeline threatens the Standing Rock reservation’s water supply and would also harm the tribe's sacred ground.

On Monday, several media outlets reported that pipeline officials would look for an alternative route for the pipeline after the Army Corps of Engineers denies a permit for the planned location.

To support members of Standing Rock, Sigcho urged for people to boycott banks and corporations that are stakeholders in the Dakota Access Pipeline.

“Boycott and call your bank and withdraw your money if they continue to push for this pipeline that is going to hurt people, that is going to contaminate water and affect children and families,” Sigcho said.

Sigcho said the main takeaway from his time in North Dakota, was seeing people fight for their communities and their land. 

"We saw people coming together. We saw people with a high level of consciousness of protecting the planet and protecting each other," Sigcho said. "That was very uplifting and energizing to see indigenous communities coming together and fighting and standing up for their rights."

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