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‘Rule of Law’ Favors Indian Country
From Standing Rock to Creek Nation, the Struggle Continues
The day that U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered the Dakota Access Pipeline to shut down, I got a call from twenty-four-year-old Marcus Mitchell.
“Can you believe it?” he exclaimed. We both marveled at Monday’s news; yet, another victory in the larger battle for justice at Standing Rock and Indian Country, overall.
The Diné water protector turned to Facebook and posted Boasberg’s photo in his timeline. In the caption, he wrote two simple words: “Thank you.” Days later, Mitchell went LIVE on the social media platform to address another court proceeding — this time, his own. Since January 2017, he’s sought legal redress after police shot him in the eye with a bean bag pellet while protesting the pipeline. His lonely battle is an obscure one, though important.
Alleging that law enforcement used “excessive violence” and covert tactics to interrogate him, Mitchell learned from attorneys that he could receive a sizeable settlement from the state of North Dakota, one of the few lawsuits of its kind waged by a water protector. He was elated by this news, what fell squarely in synch with a streak of gains seen and celebrated this week among many Native Americans.
