Protecting our water

To the Editor;
I offer praise to Bangor’s Peace and Justice Center for showing the just released documentary “Awake” that shows the efforts of Water Protectors at the North Dakota Standing Rock Sioux Nation. The video exposes violent actions of the North Dakota National Guard, sheriff department, and hired mercenaries who worked for the oil pipeline company throughout 2016 and 2017.

The violence against the Water Protectors caught on film on a subfreezing night shows the use of water canons, rubber bullets, high-pressure mace canisters, and armored personnel carriers. This motivated myself and others to go to North Dakota and stand with the Water Protectors until tribal leaders asked us to leave when then-President Barack Obama ordered drilling under the Missouri River, the water supply to 18 million Americans, to stop.

“Awake” reopened the sore of my dismay that this kind of violence, common against black Americans in the ‘60s, still exists. I encourage everyone to watch this movie and get educated about this recent sad episode in American history, an episode that continues as oil leaks from the pipeline now.

Even though data shows that oil pipelines leak tremendous amounts of oil as compared to train transported oil, President Donald Trump signed off on continued pipeline drilling at this site as soon as he took office.

Take action to protect our water by standing up, speaking out and voting for those who will protect our water and the environment as a whole. Vote for those who spread love and encourage respect for all people no matter their skin color.

Tim Rogers
LaGrange