Protesters gathered in Washington, D.C., Friday for The Native Nations Rise March, a march in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and native nations across the country. Here in Phoenix, activists also gathered to show their solidarity.
With chants of “Can't drink oil, Keep it in the soil” and “We are Water. Water is Life," people of all ages and backgrounds marched through downtown Phoenix.
They gathered to voice their opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline project but also support native nations rights more generally. And their message had a practical bent.
Core organizer Evie Reyes-Aguirri from Arizona Stands pointed out that big banks support extractive industries.
"Our message is to divest from the big banks. because unfortunately, these corporations and the U.S. government doesn’t understand what we’re saying unless we’re speaking their language. And their language is money. And the only way we can get through to them is to take the money back," she said.
To enforce that message, the group marched in a circle around the Wells Fargo bank building in downtown Phoenix on their way to the state Capitol. Wells Fargo is one of the banks that has invested in the Dakota Access pipeline project.