DAPL protestor testifies in trial [Video]

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) -In the ongoing trial between the State of North Dakota and the U.S. Government to decide who should pay for the cost of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, the Federal government now has their chance to present their defense.

On Monday, March 12, one of the first witnesses called was attorney and Indigenous rights advocate, Chase Iron Eyes.

He says, “Where the current Dakota Access Pipeline is, in our view, it’s operating illegally. Not only is the pipeline operating illegally, but the land in question, where we were described not only as trespassers, but as religiously driven Indigenous jihadi’s- this land is Sioux country.”

The state claims the special use permit that allowed people to camp on what they say is Army Corps of Engineers land, encouraged protestors to continue, but Iron Eyes said the permit never made a difference to the size of the …