Dozens march in solidarity with Standing Rock protesters

Dozens of people in Santa Barbara are standing in solidarity with the Standing Rock reservation in North Dakota.

PODER, People organized for the Defense & Equal Rights of Santa Barbara Youth, organized the march down State street on Sunday afternoon. The group gathered at De La Guerra plaza in the rain to bring awareness about Native Americans affected by the Dakota Access Pipeline.

PODER hopes to bring awareness to the current struggle of the Sioux Nation in North Dakota. Before the march, local Chumash Native Americans described the increased violence they saw during a recent visit to the Dakota Pipeline.

“Indigenous People are being forcibly removed from their land,” said event coordinator Candice Perez.

“The pipeline in North Dakota is directly threatening the condition of the water supply for 20 plus million Americans,” said Perez.

Supporters of the pipeline have said it is safer to transport oil by pipeline than by trucks or trains. They have also said new technology will prevent leaks.

On Tuesday at 2 p.m. the Santa Barbara City Council will vote on a resolution in support of the Standing Rock Sioux Nation.

For more information about PODER you can visit their website.