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V
irginia
C
apitol
C
onnections
, W
inter
2017
20
Susan Hughes, a long-time friend, is the founder of the Baby
Girl Project and has raised money over the years to build almost
40 schools for children in Africa. Like many Americans, Susan
has closely followed the situation with the Dakota Access Pipeline
(DAPL) and the Native Americans located on the Standing Rock
Indian Reservation. These Native Americans oppose DAPL because
of the serious risk to their water supply and the potential irreversible
harm to their land.
I confess:
Going to Standing Rock to bear first hand witness to
what was happening to Native Americans was no where on my list
of things to do this past November
. However, Susan inspired me as
she, in passing one day, told me of her plans to visit Standing Rock
and why that was important to her. She already knew what I would
learn from visiting Standing Rock; that there was something of much
deeper importance occurring at Standing Rock;
something that should concern all Americans.
Weston Mathews, Vice-Rector at Stephen
Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Richmond, who did
not know me beforehand but had already been to
Standing Rock, gave his time and insights to us on
what to expect. He warned that the racism toward
Native Americans is perhaps unlike any that I
might have seen. And he, sadly, is correct.
Mainstream media coverage showed little of
the violence being directed at peaceful protestors.
Here is where my shock set in regarding the racism
toward Native Americans.
The government and
private contractor are essentially running a military
action against people who are unarmed and using
prayer and courage to stand up for themselves.
It
was what I might have expected in a totalitarian
country but not in the United States. The night that
we left we saw horrific violence against Native
Americans and their allies. It was heartbreaking for me to witness.
Consider the following. When police shootings and race concerns
broke out in Charlotte, did the militarized police use: (1) water
cannons in sub-freezing temperatures on unarmed peaceful protestors,
(2) tear gas in a manner where protestors could not escape but also
on those aiding protestors, (3) rubber bullets and devices to cause ear
pain for days and (4) the ELRAD sound cannon to cause concussion
and disorientation? No. That would not look good for television news,
which was virtually 24-hour coverage for several days in Charlotte.
All four things happened the night we left Standing Rock.
It is well-documented that oil pipeline spills happen around the
United States at a far more alarming rate and damage than many
Americans realize since only catastrophic
oil spills garner serious media attention.
It is a legitimate concern for not only
Native Americans and other Americans who live in rural or less
populated areas where many pipelines exist and should be for urban
and suburban-based Americans.
Here are people, who don’t want a pipeline planted under their
only supply of drinking water, the same pipeline that was redirected
from Bismarck because of health risk concerns to that population,
so that oil can be sold, not in the USA, but overseas. Although there
are federal directives for Energy Transfer Partners to stop work
on DAPL, those orders have been largely ignored and the rights
of Native Americans, who are still “citizens” of our country, have
been trampled.
During my time at Standing Rock, I was never
in harm’s way. I, along with Susan and another
friend, Lainie Gratz, helped by washing dishes,
moving building supplies and assisting in any
way needed. I loved sitting in prayer with Native
people, many who are Christians, who talked about
their faith, their convictions and who demonstrate
incredible courage. There was never any discussion
of doing harm to the police or others. In fact, many
led prayers for their oppressors. Women Native
American leaders spoke so eloquently about their
values and their purpose.
The Hopi and Lakota Indians tell of a native
ancient prophecy of “the Black Snake” attempting
to cross rivers around the country and if successful
will bring destruction and harm to many waters
and lands. These are not prophecies of convenient
storytelling but teachings in their Native American
traditions that go back hundreds of years and
demonstrate a profound stewardship for the environment. If oil
pipelines are “the Black Snake” in such prophecies I pray they don’t
come true.
There is a saying that God speaks to those who take time to listen
and God listens to those who take time to pray. I am grateful that I took
time to listen to my friend, Susan Hughes, about Standing Rock and for
bearing witness to something all too easy to ignore.
Kirk T. Schroder is an attorney with the law firm of Schroder Davis in
Richmond. From 1998 to 2002, he served as president of the Virginia
Board of Education. Kirk currently serves as a legislative appointee
and member of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Commission.
Standing
Rock
APersonal
Reflection
By Kirk Schroder
V