Camp Migizi
Today, July 26th at around 3pm, Pennington County cops brutalized water protectors who were peacefully welcoming 20 friends out of jail in Thief River Falls. These were the same cops who brutalized and arrested indigenous people on Friday morning as they held ceremony.
As a Red Lake Nation Tribal Member was exiting a gas station where he’d used the bathroom, 10+ cops detained him without warning. When his comrades outside the jail saw what was happening, they ran over to ask what basis the cops had to detain him. Without answering, the cops quickly formed a line and took out their batons.
They beat multiple water protectors, throwing one into the brick wall of the gas station. Two were tackled and arrested, again with no legal justification. The cops had to release the initial detainee only 15 minutes later, since they had no basis for detaining him. The two arrestees are still in jail.
Pennington County PD has repeatedly displayed their racism and their brutality. More than anything, they’ve displayed their willingness to ignore the law, treaty rights, and basic morality in their effort to suppress water protectors and defend the multinational corporation that gives them their paychecks. Now more than ever, Red Lake Treaty Camp needs your support.
Call the Pennington County Sherriff’s Office, let them know the World is Watching, that the treatment of Indigenous people and Water Protectors is unjust, and we demand the release of all Water Protectors illegally arrested and unlawfully detained.
Pennington County PD (218) 681-6161
Venmo @stars_on_stone to support Red Lake Treaty Camp, or better yet, come join us on the frontlines to defend the people and the water.