Arrested Protester Speaks

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Arrested Protester Speaks

By Drew Sandholm

16 adults and one juvenile were arrested today for disorderly conduct because they blocked traffic to construction site of a large hog farm near Wagner.

Protesters refused to get off the road when a truck carrying construction material approached the site. The arrests were made because the people were blocking traffic.

Tonight one of those protesters is speaking out.

Cement trucks show construction continues to this hog confinement structure. But right across the street protesters from the Yank ton Sioux tribe make sure they're heard. 16 demonstrators blocked this road, preventing trucks from getting to the site. So the Charles Mix Sheriff's department arrested them.

Glenn Drape was arrested earlier today. He said, "I asked him why he was doing this. And he said I am obstructing justice. And I said how is protecting 11 farmers not even from this state justice."

So who owns the road in question? Well, it remains to be seen. But protesters say it's their land, and the signs say the say same thing. The issue might need to be resolved in court, but he says the tribe will continue to protest this construction.

Drape says, "People around here who are totally against mother earth, the pollution of our air, the pollution of our home, because this is our home."

Protesters say they will be back tomorrow.

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Friday, Apr 25 at 10:01 AM Its not Just the Smell!! wrote ...

People who are ignorant of the fact that its not just the smell. This toxic waste will kill, people, plants, animals, the water and pollute the air!! Wa! Our concerned people of the community, we Love you, and thank you for your prayers, they are being answered. Stand Strong!!

Thursday, Apr 24 at 1:13 PM Rose wrote ...

People that don't live in this area don't really care if there is a hog farm that is a hazardous health issue to our land, water and air. This is a life threat to all races, not only Indians. We have many races living within the boundaries of our rez. KEEP THE HOGS IN IOWA! WE DON'T WANT THEM HERE!

Thursday, Apr 24 at 12:04 PM Anonymous wrote ...

To susie I have a beef feedlot in my yard and the neighbor has a hog confinment building one mile away. Is there odor sometimes that is why they call it the country!!! If you dont like it move to town.

Thursday, Apr 24 at 11:11 AM Adrienne Jae wrote ...

well mr. or mrs. Anonymous the protesters do have jobs.. but when theres a big crowd its usually after 4:30 or 5 sometime around meaning their off work!.. duhh.. and of course people eat bacon and porkchops around here but doesn't mean we want them made down the road

Thursday, Apr 24 at 8:26 AM Anonymous wrote ...

If they offered 30 jobs in your area to build this thing 29 would apply and nobody would show up for work. Thats how it is. One paycheck and you are drunk until its gone. At least the mexicans have a work ethic. Don't hear them complaining none. We give them the same handout you get. They dont complain. Who care is the sherriff and his family are involved. They need jobs and have a work ethic. Someone shut the money off to that road. Bet it will go to hell quick. POOR POOR NATIVES!

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 11:00 PM passer by wrote ...

I can't imagine what a sow operation will smell like. There are two state of the art feeder pig houses in south Hand County that are almost unbearable to drive by let alone live next to. I do hope there is some effort by those folks in CM county to make that a better deal than they have in south Hand county.

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 10:56 PM Concerned Pat wrote ...

Does any one care that their is a gross miss use of power going on in Charles Mix County ?The Sheriffs family is financially connected, the Deputy State Atty is the "Facilitator", they brought in 30 (non English speeking) workers in 2 vans from IOWA today. So much for LOCAL jobs. NO PUBLIC MEETING WAS ORGANIZED before, because DENR said that a petition would not stop it. The only people who will see 2% is Wagner Businesses. The rest of the county just gets to enjoy the smell.

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 8:03 PM susie wrote ...

To the one who asked if they had bacon or porkchops; if you want to why don't you ask them to put the hog farm in YOUR back yard. Then we can ALL eat bacon and porkchops without conflict.

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 4:06 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Don't you people out there have jobs to go to? Let the construction progress, you could have been complaining along time ago when the permits were being issued and advertised. Do you complain now just for the press time or are you just bored in groups?

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 2:15 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I am not sure how close this farm is to town are really why people are protesting but ususally when someone is bringing jobs to an area it is a good thing so what is so bad about it being built? SO what is the sheriffs son is making a 100k where do you think it is going to be spent In town so will still benefit other people

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 1:44 PM A TEAR FOR MY PEOPLE wrote ...

KEEP IT UP PROTESTORS!!!. HELP IS ON THE WAY!!! STAY Strong. THEY"LL BEAT U DOWN BUT STAY STROUNG. WE LOVE U ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 1:30 PM Joe wrote ...

The natives of this area need to accept the fact that the reason their nation is in shambles isn't the greed of the white man but the lack of effort put forth by generation after generation to improve the lives of your people. What happened was wrong. What is happening now is a disgrace.

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 1:27 PM Binder wrote ...

This whole thing is about money the tribe wants 2% of the project and then they would leave them alone. Everyone says it is about the enviroment and the health of the children. I have a hog barn 300 ft from my house and I have 5 children and if I thought their health was at risk I would not have it, because my family means more to me then anything else in the world. "Save the enviroment" is just an excuse to get paid for something that will not effect them of their families.

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 12:50 PM Heather wrote ...

Us PEOPLE loll!! We are the people first to be here and the last!! So why dont you just quit writing cause obviously you dont know whats going on here on OUR LAND!!!

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 12:49 PM Concerned who lives near wrote ...

First you people need to get the facts which you will probably dont want to hear !!! they had meetings at private HOMES any one that was oppsed was not invited and all INFO was kept from them!!! there are people who have so many conflict of interest in this that the feds really need to come in and look at this ...i live in that township and have never been asked ,invited or told a thing of this place and the last time i heard it was stoped .studies and test are not even done yet !! But build??

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 12:39 PM Anonymous wrote ...

If you have jobs how are you able to take all the time off to stand on the road and protest and last i checked they arent building the farm on the road it shouldnt stop traffic from passing, you are the ones stopping traffic

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 11:23 AM loll wrote ...

if you people had such a problem with this hog farm going up...then why didn't you start protesting or trying to do something to stop it when the iowa farmer was getting the papers and everything approved by the state and county? you have had all this time to do something and you just decide to protest when they start building...doesn't make sense to me.

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 11:09 AM Heather wrote ...

Im sorry to say Steveo and Anon but YES we do have jobs and we also have children we need to protect!! And the county only built the road but we have took care of the road for over 15 years so IT IS OUR ROAD!!!

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 10:13 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Ask them to build it in your back yard if you want it so badly. As for the "County" road, Native Americans have always been turned over to the BIA when stopped on this road, the State has recognized this as a Tribal road for decades. Now all of a sudden, they claim it's theirs. There has to be a kickback going into someone's pocket

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 10:10 AM Commentator wrote ...

"THese" people/protestors...we know exactly what you mean. Maybe they should have the fARM THRIV

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 9:45 AM Anonymous wrote ...

How many of the protesters had bacon or porkchops to eat yesterday?

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 8:12 AM Steveo wrote ...

Right before the protests started the County Road signs that where posted on this road were changed to BIA signs. Every map lists it as a county road.

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 8:03 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Don't these protestors have jobs, how can they spend all day every day keeping other people from doing their own jobs. Leave the construction workers alone they are only doing what they are told to do.

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 12:32 AM SD Citizen wrote ...

I know that hog farms aren't the most attractive things in the world...but what about progress? Everything we can make a success in our state makes our state better...don't we want our state to thrive?

Tuesday, Apr 22 at 11:08 PM Concerned Pat wrote ...

Let's talk about the real issue behind this excessive force. Sheriff Westendorf's son is the Electrical contractor for this project. Estimated cost to be approx. $100K. It is also been brought to the attention of the public and confirmed by the Sherriff that he will also be an employee of Long View Farms in the future. As a citizen of Charles Mix County I call on the County Commissioners to investigate these claims and demand that he step down. His actions are not without conflicted motives.

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