Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

By Dalton Walker. Today. Reprinted with permission from Indian County Today.

As a violent mob backing President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday with what appeared to be relative ease, many in Indian Country took to social media to point out drastic differences of past treatment by law enforcement of water protectors and other peaceful protestors.

In a chaotic scene in Washington, D.C., that lasted for hours, dozens of Trump supporters rushed the famous building, causing lawmakers to scramble for safety and the building to be locked down.

Videos posted on social media show a violent mob, many wearing Trump gear, knocking down police barriers and damaging building property. The mob even reached the Senate floor and posed for photos, while one video showed police taking a selfie photo with members of the mob.

One person was shot and killed at the Capitol, The Associated Press reported, citing sources familiar with the situation. Police eventually used tear gas and percussion grenades to clear people from the grounds ahead of a curfew in Washington.

The district's police chief said at least 13 people were arrested, and five firearms had been recovered during the pro-Trump protests. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, Cherokee, of Oklahoma, told ABC News that he was inside and spoke with some of the Trump supporters. A photo posted on social media shows Mullin behind civilian-dressed law enforcement with guns drawn and aimed at the door. "It's fortunate that a lot more civilians didn't get shot because (Capitol) police showed a great restraint by not doing so. A great restraint."

Rep. Tom Cole, Chickasaw, of Oklahoma, said he was outraged by the "lawless protests," and it's not the "American way."

"While Americans have the right to passionately voice their views & peacefully dissent in protest, I strongly condemn the perpetrators of this destructive & violent activity," Cole said in a tweet.

Critics, including Black, Indigenous and people of color, say at least some of the scene was a stark contrast to what water protectors and treaty defenders have faced over the years, specifically at Standing Rock in 2016, where law enforcement repeatedly used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets.

More than 760 arrests were made in southern North Dakota during the height of protests in 2016 and 2017. At times, thousands of pipeline opponents gathered in the region to protest the $3.8 billion project to move North Dakota oil to Illinois, but the effort didn't stop the project.

NDN Collective CEO and President Nick Tilsen, who was arrested during a rally against Trump's visit to the Black Hills in July, didn't hold back on Twitter.

"If these were Black, Brown and Indigenous people they would of killed us already; read between the lines people," Tilsen, Oglala Lakota, said in a tweet.

Everett Baxter, Omaha Tribe of Nebraska chairman, said Natives speaking their mind get arrested, while the Trump supporters in Washington, D.C., "will probably get pardons."

Baxter also questioned Nebraska state leaders in their involvement at Standing Rock.

"The Nebraska State Patrol sent officers to aid North Dakota's law enforcement against the water protectors during (the) Standing Rock standoff," Baxter posted on Facebook. "Will Nebraska do the same to aid the law enforcement of the Washington D.C. riots? Not likely."

From Luca Brown Eyes' Facebook post January 6, 2021, "As we watch Trumpers storm the capital with guns. Just a reminder, this is what America did to Native protesting for clean water."

On Twitter, writer, actor and producer Azie Mira Dungey, Pamunkey, called out law enforcement's response at the Capitol.

"Police literally worked harder to make sure a private company could build an oil pipeline on Native land, and to stop black people from walking through their own neighborhood asking politely not to be murdered, than to stop a few hundred white men from taking over the US Capitol," Dungey said in a tweet.

Nick Estes, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, is a college professor and host of "The Red Nation" podcast. He responded to South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's tweet criticizing the violence. Her post included the comment, "We are all entitled to peacefully protest."

"What? You pushed laws to criminalize protest in SD and pushed conspiracy theories about stolen election," Estes said.

Comedian Lucas Brown Eyes, Oglala Lakota, tweeted photos of water protectors being attacked by law enforcement at Standing Rock.