Vic Mensa Joins Protest Against Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock
Vic Mensa recently joined protesters, known as water protectors, in Standing Rock, North Dakota, where thousands have gathered to block the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The pipeline is being constructed near Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and the Standing Rock Sioux tribe contends that the pipeline will disturb its sacred sites, infringes on past treaty agreements and endangers their primary water supply, the Missouri River, as the pipeline passes under it.
On Sunday, the rapper filmed a Facebook Live video to explain why he joined the protest. “This is by treaty, by law, this is land that belongs to the Standing Rock Sioux,” Mensa said, adding, “An oil company wants to build the Dakota Access Pipeline and put it through their water source to potentially or most likely contaminate water that services millions of people.”
Later he discussed the racist implications in the decision-making of where the pipeline is being routed. “The pipeline was supposed to be over by Bismark, in a different area that’s not Indian country and it’s a white area. So what they…