Protesters Block Off Highway 1806 in Morton County; Law Enforcement Looking for Peaceful Resolution

The Morton County Sheriff’s Department asks protesters to unblock Highway 1806 and clear the camps across from it.

Authorities say the protesters refused.

They confronted protesters on Highway 1806 south of Mandan after they blocked the highway.

They asked them to move, but protesters said “no”.

“The exact words of one of their leaders was we will stand east of 1806 and ‘we will draw the line,'” said Sheriff Paul Laney of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.

Protesters don’t show signs that they’re moving anytime soon.

“The last thing we want to do is to do this forcefully,” said Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier of the Moron County Sheriff’s Department. “We want the cooperation and go down and give them every opportunity to make sure this stays lawful. But right now, laws are being violated.”

The camp set up across 1806 is on land owned by “Energy Transfer Partners”, the company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline.

That makes it illegal for protesters to be there.

Highway access for the people of Morton County is a big concern for authorities.

“They have the rights to move freely on the roads they have the right to stay safe in their homes, they have the right to go up and down a highway,” said Sheriff Laney. “They shouldn’t be stopped by people at a checkpoint that’s not supposed to be there.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil right leader, arrived at the camp and said he’s supporting the tribe and the rights of indigenous people.

Kirchmeier says there’s no timeline on when they will resort to move protesters forcefully.

He vows to try to clear this peacefully and safely first.

“I understand what has been over the past 100 years or more about treaties but that cannot be worked out in Morton County,” Sheriff Kirchmeier said. “That has to be worked out in with the federal government. We have to deal with what the laws are today and make sure everybody stays safe.”

More celebrities are supporting the protest.

Actor Mark Ruffalo has arrived in the area and environmental activist and actor Leo DiCaprio is also expected at the camp.