standing rock,
the Dakota access pipeline & the media
​
STANDING ROCK
How it all enfolded
The story and protests all began when it was revealed that the $3.7 billion Dakota Access Pipeline project, spanning from North Dakota to Illinois through protected Native American lands, would leak oil and contaminate the drinking water for millions of Native Americans from several tribes.
(Medina).
A map of the planned path of the Dakota access pipeline which would go straight through sacred Native American burial grounds and contaminate drinking water for millions of people.
inciting
widespread protests
From the Dakotas to DC
& with celebrities
susan Sarandon
willow smith
mark Ruffalo
chris Hemsworth
& the Shailene Woodley Controversy
The famous, young actress Shailene Woodley, popularly known for her leading role in the Divergent films, was arrested while peacefully protesting the pipeline at Standing Rock. Armed with massive guns, and riot gear, police had been continually arresting people throughout the many month-long protest period.
Woodley was on the land with permission of the Sioux tribe, who the land belonged to, when she was arrested by the police for trespassing. While amongst a massive crowd, Woodley was the only one arrested with police telling her that she had been 'named', thus implying that she had only been picked out because she was famous.
Through Facebook, Woodley live streamed her arrest and gained massive support for the cause and the injustice of her arrest across the country.
(Fox).
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How it ended
Through intense media scrutinization of the pipeline, from both social and mainstream media, President Obama halted construction on the pipeline. Then, when Donald Trump became President, he signed an executive order to complete the pipeline and it was functioning by May 2017.
While the protests were ultimately unsuccessful, the media attention to the issue brought the worries of the Native American people to the forefront. Without the protests, social media, and continued mainstream media coverage, the pipeline would have been made quickly without any concern over the Native American's rights. The media attention allowed the Native American people to voice their concerns without immediately being dismissed, overlooked, and forgotten.