FARGO (KFGO-AM) - North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple says up to 3,000 demonstrators could show up at the site of a protest Wednesday against a $3.8 billion oil pipeline.
Protesters have been gathering since last week at the pipeline's construction site near Cannonball. Dalrymple tells KFGO News, his biggest concern is that the demonstrators’ don't get out of control.
“There are hundreds of people here from outside of North Dakota, and there are many of them we know that do not have intentions for an entirely peaceful protest” Dalrymple said.
“There are literally hundreds of unlawful acts” at the site of the demonstrations, according to Dalrymple. “That changes the way that law enforcement has to deal with the situation.”
A state of emergency declared by Dalrymple last week remains in effect. “We are still restricting traffic down Highway 1806 because we believe that with a large number of protesters at the encampment, we don’t know, hour-by-hour, day-by-day, what the situation is.”
As of Tuesday, Dalrymple said at least 29 people had been arrested for various reasons including vandalism and assault and issuing threats. “Any threat on a law enforcement officer is a crime and will be pursued” Dalrymple said.
The demonstration is taking place on property that belongs to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.