Police Shut Down Protest Over Keystone Pipeline - East Idaho News
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Police Shut Down Protest Over Keystone Pipeline

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Getty 042414 CowboyIndianAlliance?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1398379788161Mark Wilson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Activists from the Cowboy and Indian Alliance gathered at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Thursday in protest of the Keystone Pipeline. However, efforts were thwarted by police ordering them to stop an attempt at stretching a blow-up pipe across the water.

The group of ranchers, farmers, and leaders of several Native American tribes planned to pump air into the mock pipeline, but only got as far as rolling it out. Police put a halt to the actions, telling them to shut off their generators.

Two protesters were able to make their way into the middle of the pool to hold up a sign, undisturbed by officers. Wizipan Little Elk, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and farmer Art Tanderup gave speeches about the pipeline threatening their lands. One speaker said his tribe “would spill their own blood” before allowing construction of the system.

Protests against the oil pipeline across Canada and the United States started after the State Department announced Friday that it would extend review of the project indefinitely. Critics argue the system will make it more difficult for the U.S. to shift away from fossil fuels, while supporters feel it will generate construction jobs and assist in the acquisition of oil.

The Cowboy and Indian Alliance is scheduled to protest in front of Secretary of State John Kerry’s home on Friday, with other events set near the White House during the weekend.

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