Four Directions March in Denver in support of Standing Rock protest

Thousands of Coloradans converged in downtown Denver on Thursday September 8th, to express solidarity for the activists opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline or DAPL.

The marchers were led by tribal elders from across the statein four groups, wearing red, yellow, black and white. Once there, they danced, sang, played drums and burned sage and culminated at the state capitol.

At the rally, State Representative Joe Salazar said the Colorado Oil and Gas Association is “full of lies” for saying that such pipelines are safe. Native activists who have visited Standing Rock, including several youth, described seeing demonstrators attacked by dogs and pepper spray.

The 1,100 mile pipeline would run from western North Dakota to Illinois and is expected to cost $3.8 billion dollars. The Standing Rock Sioux tribe filed a lawsuit against the pipeline in on the grounds that it violates federal land preservation acts and will cause environmental damage. Federal Judge James Boasberg granted a temporary, partial injunction against construction of the pipeline last weekend, and is expected to announce his final ruling on the tribe’s lawsuit later today.