An opponent of the
Dakota Access
Pipeline is suing the federal government in connection with an incident in North Dakota during which she nearly lost her arm.
Sophia Wilansky, 22, filed the lawsuit on Friday. She alleges federal authorities went back on their promise to provide her with evidence from the late November 2016 clash.
The evidence consists of clothing worn by Wilansky and shrapnel removed from her arm. Her father, Wayne, said he turned over the items in hopes of securing justice for his daughter.
"On information and belief, over the past fourteen months, the government has not issued any indictments or made a single arrest related to Sophia’s injury," the complaint states. "Wayne has repeatedly requested that the government honor its agreement and return Sophia’s possessions, or at least make them available to Sophia’s forensic chemist for nondestructive analysis. The government continues to refuse to do so."
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Minnesota. Wilansky received treatment, including lengthy surgery, in the state after suffering injuries.
Pipeline opponents allege law enforcement used stinger grenades, water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets and other weapons during the November 2016 assault. The local sheriff in North Dakota denied using stinger grenades and instead suggested that Wilansky was injured by makeshift weapons created by pipeline opponents. There has been no evidence of that claim.
Oil continues to flow through the pipeline, which was made possible after the Trump administration approved the final portion in North Dakota without consulting the affected tribes.
A federal judge later ruled that the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
failed to take into account treaty rights, water resources and other issues
raised by the
Standing Rock
Sioux Tribe and the
Cheyenne
River Sioux Tribe. A revised decision is pending.
Read More on the Story:
Dakota Access pipeline protester injured in blast sues government for return of evidence
(The Minneapolis Star Tribune February 5, 2018)
Injured protester files federal lawsuit
(The Bismarck Tribune February 6, 2018)
Woman injured in DAPL protest sues for evidence
(The Associated Press February 6, 2018)
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