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Protests in Lancaster, Lebanon County against Dakota Access Pipeline

LANCASTER, Pa. – Dozens of demonstrators in Lancaster as well as in Lebanon County took part in a national day of action in solidarity with the Standing R...

LANCASTER, Pa. - Dozens of demonstrators in Lancaster as well as in Lebanon County took part in a national day of action in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Native American tribe, who is leading the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota.

Some local protesters, including Alena Clatterbuck, just returned from protesting with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe in North Dakota.

"At first it was like just getting wrapped up in it, should I step over and trespass, but I mean they can't arrest 2,000 people," she said.

Clatterbuck and her family have been fighting the proposed Atlantic Sunrise pipeline in Lancaster County for years.

When they heard about what was happening in North Dakota, she said they had to go out and help the people there make their voices heard.

"I think theirs was really inspiring because here it's more low-key," Clatterbuck said. "We're just used to pipelines going everywhere but out there it's different. There's not as many and because of it going through a Native American site or burial grounds, it was a real rising of people getting together, saying this is very wrong."

Protesters in South Londonderry Township in Lebanon County also drew strength from the fight by the Sioux as they dispute two proposed pipelines locally: the Atlantic Sunrise and the Mariner East projects.

"We are at the cusp of fundamental change here in Lebanon County," Michael Schroeder, with Lebanon Pipeline Awareness, said. "I don't think folks really realize the extent to which our land and water and air is going to be affected by this pipeline revolution."

Demonstrators say they hope this will move more people to act and speak out against pipelines.

"We really identify with the social injustice of this," Ann Pinca, of Lebanon Pipeline Awareness, said. "This is an attack on citizens, an attack on property rights."

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