A week long battle against a proposed hog farm west of Wagner, South Dakota has intensified today, as state police, working outside of their jurisdiction arrested 20 Yankton Souix tribal members and allies as they blockaded a road leading to the construction site of the farm.
The week long protests culminating in the road blockade are aimed at shutting down the proposed farm that would produce nearly 70,000 piglets a year for the factory farm industry, Long View Farms, LLC. Multiple concerns have been raised about pollution and smell, factors that have plagued similar developments around the country. The proposed farm would be less than 5 miles from a tribal Headstart program and school for native children.
Last Tuesday, one person was injured as he was hit by a frontloader attempting to start construction on the project. A tribal court has ruled that construction should be halted, and no land belonging to the tribe (including the road where protesters were arrested this morning) can legally be used for the construction project.
That court decision was denied by Long View Farms and their attorneys, and seemingly by the state, as their actions this morning would indicate.
Hundreds have protested the farm proposal through various methods. The blockade this morning was the most militant of the protests thus far, preventing a truck carrying construction materials from entering the site.
Kansas Mutual Aid, a Kansas based anarchist collective is currently accepting funds for the legal defense of those arrested. At this time, the vast majority of the charges appear to be for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Comrades that are at this moment heading to South Dakota to help stand with the Yankton Souix have said an attorney has been secured, but a $5,000 retainer is needed.
Please send any donations to:
Kansas Mutual Aid
PO Box 442438
Lawrence, KS 66044
Or if in Lawrence, we will start accepting legal donations through the Solidarity Center, 1109 Massachusetts Street starting Wednesday April 23rd.
At this time, make checks payable to Kansas Mutual Aid.
We will ensure all funds sent here will be deposited into a fund being created by local indigenous organizers for legal defense of those arrested in South Dakota.
In love and solidarity!
Dave Strano
on behalf of Kansas Mutual Aid
Updates will be posted to staterepressionnews.blogspot.com as they become available.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment