Protesters Rally in Support of Standing Rock

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ)- Veterans and supporters from across Kentucky met in front of the capitol building to express their support for the Standing Rock protesters and to also call on state and federal lawmakers to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline.

One Lexington woman who participated in Sunday’s protest actually spent time up in North Dakota protesting in November.

“When we marched up about 40 armored vehicles and the LRAD device came over the hill and down towards us and were telling us, you know, to leave the bridge for our own safety,” said Erika Strecker, a Dakota Access Pipeline protester.

Strecker spent a week up in North Dakota last month protesting with the Standing Rock Sioux to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline near their land.

“You know these issues affect all of us. Water is a precious resource and if we’re not careful big corporations are going to own our water sources and control that frontier,” said Strecker.

Sunday afternoon, Strecker and hundreds of Standing Rock supporters rallied in front of Kentucky’s state capitol building to call on lawmakers to take a stand.

“Our representatives, senators, congressmen, people you work for us, you work for these people. You do what we say or you will not be in office,” said David “Thunder Eagle” Fallis, an organizer of the protest.

Protesters say the pipeline is more than just a North Dakota issue and that people across the country should be rallying against it.

“Whether you’re in Kentucky or anywhere on this planet, you drink water and if that water is poisoned, it’s happening all over the place. It just happened in Michigan. It’s happening, we’re being killed left and right, so wake up now or don’t wake up,” said Seneca “Thunder Kleez” Holden, a Standing Rock supporter.

Just hours after the rally ended, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced they would be rerouting the pipeline, a victory for protesters like Strecker and a decision she says shows the power every person holds.

“You know, we have choices that we can make and we can make them with our pocketbook and the very least, you know, by not buying or buying from things that are invested or not invested in things that you believe in or don’t believe in,” said Strecker.

It is unclear where the U.S. Army Corps of engineers plans to re-route the pipeline.

The more than 1,100 mile long structure is nearly complete except for the small section near the Standing Rock reservation.