CHICAGO – A large crowd has gather in downtown Chicago to protest the construction of the 4-state Dakota Access Pipeline.
The crowd is holding a rally at Daley Plaza.
A march to the Army Corps of Engineer office is planned as well.
#CHICAGO: Pipeline protesters are gathering in Daley Plaza. #AsSeenFromSkyCam9 pic.twitter.com/QIovo1tpaJ
— WGN-TV Traffic (@WGNtraffic) September 9, 2016
Earlier today, a federal judge denied the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s request to temporarily stop construction on the oil pipeline near their reservation in North Dakota.
Tribal officials challenged the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to grant permits for Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners’ $3.8 billion pipeline that is intended to carry oil from North Dakota to Illinois.
Friday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg comes amid growing protests over the pipeline, which would cross the Missouri River less than a mile upstream of the reservation.
The tribe argues the pipeline could impact drinking water and that construction has already disturbed ancient sacred sites.
A lawyer for the tribe says the ruling will be appealed.