Two protestors rappel from the rafters with a banner against the
Dakota Pipeline during the second quarter during a game between the
Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Mandatory
Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)
Two protesters dangling from a ceiling support at
Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium unfurled a banner criticizing the
Dakota Access Pipeline during a National Football League game on
Sunday between the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, police said.
The banner urged Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank to divest
from the $3.8 billion pipeline crossing four states. Construction in
North Dakota prompted protests by Native Americans and
environmentalists who say the project will harm water resources and
sacred lands. The federal government ruled in December against that
stretch of the project.
The protesters, a man and a woman, climbed down after
the game ended and were arrested, police said in a statement. After
undergoing medical evaluations, the pair were jailed on burglary and
trespassing charges, and another woman was issued a trespass notice
and released, the statement said.
The protesters climbed to the top of the stadium and
hung a banner reading: “DIVEST” in big letters as well as “#NoDAPL,”
according to media images.
Play was not interrupted during the game, won by the
Vikings 38-10, but police said a section of seats below the banner
was cleared as a precaution.
Five demonstrators were arrested last week in the first
protests since the federal government decided against the project.
Opposition to the pipeline has been backed by military
veterans, celebrities and actors, including Mark Ruffalo, Shailene
Woodley and Susan Sarandon.
Energy Transfer Partners LP, which is building the
pipeline, has gone to federal court for a permit to finish the job.
It has said it is committed to seeing the project completed without
rerouting the line.
The company has said the 1,172-mile (1,885-km) pipeline,
which is nearly finished, would be a more efficient and safer means
to transport oil from the Bakken shale of North Dakota.
(Reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by
Peter Cooney)
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/01/protesters-hang-banner-during-nfl-game-to-protest-north-dakota-pipeline/