Vic Mensa
Chicago rapper Vic Mensa has joined the battle against the controversial and environmental destructive Dakota Access Pipeline. The project aims to transport around 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily along the 1,000 plus mile long pipeline from North Dakota to Illinois. North Dakota’s Standing Rock Sioux, a group who not only live in the area but are also indigenous to the lands, have expressed grave concerns about the project and what it would due to their water supply. The project is over 85% complete. Energy Transfer Partners, the company that is building the $3.7 billion pipeline, has ties to President-Elect Donald Trump, who has invested a substantial amount of money into the project. Kelcy Warren, the CEO of Energy Transfer Partners has donated over $100,000 to Trump’s campaign. North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple, in addition to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have ordered protesters to clear the area.
In a post made to Instagram, Vic Mensa remarked:
"I've been at #StandingRock for the last 3 days, and the experience has been amazing. If you're not in tune with what's going on here, Standing Rock is an Indian reservation where a major oil company is trying to drill a pipeline underneath the river that supplies drinking water for millions of people on and off of the reservation. Drilling that oil pipeline could contaminate the livelihood of so many people, primarily indigenous people of this land that have been systematically destroyed since Europeans arrived in America. Thousands of people have come from all over the world to Standing Rock to stop that pipeline from being drilled and protect the water."
Mensa also wrote:
"If you believe in the inalienable rights of people; the right to clean drinking water, the right to food & shelter and the right to freedom then you have to support standing rock. Get on a plane, drive, take a bus do whatever you have to do. December 5th the Army Corps has set an ultimatum for the people camped at standing rock, saying that they will forcibly remove the water protectors. When one of our freedom is on the line all of our freedom is on the line. Fight for freedom."
Vic Mensa recently stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live and performed his politically charged song “16 Shots.” The song address police brutality and terror inflicted upon communities of color. If you haven't already, scroll down to watch the performance and peep Mensa's Instagram posts regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline below. Head here to donate to the fight against the environmentally catastrophic Dakota Access Pipeline. You can also text Water to 82623 to support.
