Shailene Woodley was arrested for peacefully protesting the construction of the Dakota Pipeline.
The Divergent star and former BUST cover gal joined thousands standing ground in Sioux County, North Dakota to protect the land against the Dakota Pipeline (DAPL). The fiery activist streamed a live video on her Facebook account (see below for video), showing a chilling scene of 50 or so people being intimidated by men with machine guns and army tanks. Woodley was singled out and taken into custody, whispering into the video “some Divergent shit is just about to happen.”
Woodley was arrested right after a three-panel judge issued a huge blow to the growing movement against DAPL. The court denied an appeal to temporarily halt construction on the 3.8 billion dollar pipeline, that if completed, will carry crude oil across sacred native burial land (Read more about it here).
A large movement has grown in North Dakota with thousands of Native Americans and activists coming together to occupy the area. It has been a fight for clean water and Native American sovereignty. But over the past couple weeks, tensions have boiled over, with arrests being made and a larger military presence growing. It seems Woodley was not immune. She was arrested Monday afternoon, along with 26 other individuals, for trespassing and engaging in a ‘riot’.
She was released yesterday and her publicist told E news : “She appreciates the outpouring of support, not only for her but more importantly, for the continued fight against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.”
Woodley also released a beautiful, yet deeply heart-wrenching picture on Instagram, alongside the caption: “one day, baby, we’ll sing our poetry. the words dripping from our tongues wet with ripened patience. and the lyrics, the sweet fruits born from the seeds our aging hands are now sowing.”
Woodley’s arrest has served an important role. It has put DAPL back into the news, which seemed to be losing traction this past month. The pipeline could threaten local drinking water and its construction violate Native American treaty agreements. Woodley’s arrest might just be the push needed to keep the movement alive.
“The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe is not backing down from this fight,” said Dave Archambault II, chairman of the tribe, according to the Huffington Post. “We are guided by prayer, and we will continue to fight for our people. We will not rest until our lands, people, waters and sacred places are permanently protected from this destructive pipeline.”
Stand with Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. #NoDAPL.
Check out the video of Woodley’s arrest:
Photo via Twitter
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