Report: Police Use of Water Cannons, Rubber Bullets, Need Safety Standards; White House Deletes Native American Web Content

From Minneapolis protest against use of Hennepin County Sheriffs deputies in North Dakota.

Recent violent clashes over construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) have put a harsh spotlight on law enforcement’s use and abuse of crowd control weapons such as water cannons, rubber bullets, tear gas and concussion grenades.

The growing use of these weapons can do significant harm — not just physical harm, but harm to people’s basic freedoms of assembly and speech. That’s according to a report released last year by the Physicians for Human Rights and the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations.

The report is calling for an international debate on safe standards and guidelines for when law enforcement can use “crowd control weapons” or CCW.

#No DAPL Update: Shimmer of Hope: Construction Delays Possible; Bad News: Use of Rubber Bullets Inhumane, Unnecessary

The Indigenous Environmental Network has posted a video with hopeful news about efforts to delay — and eventually stop — the Dakota Access Pipeline. Meanwhile, the Water Protectors are facing rubber bullets, mace and concussion grenades. And Winona LaDuke sends an Open Letter to members of North Dakota’s law enforcement and National Guard appealing to their conscience.