On Monday morning, actress and activist Shailene Woodley went live on her Facebook account from the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, where she claimed that riot police were coming to break up a peaceful protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe was recently rejected by a federal judge in its efforts to halt construction, NBC News reports, as the tribe believes the pipeline will destroy sacred grounds. Monday’s protest at a construction site for the pipeline came not only as many people are celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day, but also as tribal leaders vowed to keep fighting the $3.7 billion project.
Woodley has been a prominent voice in the battle against the Dakota Pipeline, both on social media and in person, and her presence on Monday may bring the most attention to the cause yet. As TMZ reports:
About 100 protesters were on a construction site for the controversial pipeline project before cops moved in and put handcuffs on Shailene.
Shailene was arrested for 2 misdemeanors … including engaging in a riot. Cops tell us they issued multiple warnings for the protesters to leave. 27 protesters were ultimately arrested. (Via TMZ)
As you can see in her Facebook video, Woodley explains that she did as the police told her, but she believes that she was still arrested because of her notoriety. Woodley also calls for the mainstream media to pay attention, something she recently celebrated on Twitter, and at 1.9 million views and counting, her video may ensure that everyone finally focuses on Standing Rock.
No more pipelines. Let’s stand together & support Standing Rock with this awesome tee. Go: https://t.co/hfDIQzQAj7 pic.twitter.com/7BqfnIJfDd
— Shailene Woodley (@shailenewoodley) September 27, 2016