For immediate Release

North Dakota Veterans oppose Veteran involvement in Standing Rock protests and actions

The Veteran group calling themselves Veterans Stand for Standing Rock (VSSR) are planning
to assemble in North Dakota December 4-7, 2016 to protest the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
This organization has reached out to veterans and Veteran Service Organizations in ND to obtain
their support and assist in recruitment of veterans to the protest. The VSSR plans to assemble in
Platoons and Company formations at the front line to face what they have identified as their
enemy and opposing forces; the Morton County Sheriffs office and multiple state police
agencies in an extended conflict. The veterans plan to wear partial but not full military uniforms
as well as body armor, protective masks and military head cover. The group states that they are
here to peacefully protest.
ND veterans organizations contacted by the VSSR have refused to support this assembly of
veterans or assist in recruiting veterans from ND. Instead the ND Veterans Organizations have
communicated with the VSSR that they oppose their deployment to ND and have reached out
to veterans asking them not to participate.
All military members take an oath to defend the US Constitution from enemies both foreign and
domestic. They all fight for and defend our country and our way of life. They defend and respect
the American Flag and treat it with the respect it deserves. As veterans we continue to serve our
nation to uphold the oaths and commitments we made and fought for. We all agree that it is our
constitutional right to assemble and peacefully protest. However the protests over the last 100
plus days in North Dakota have been less than peaceful.
The DAPL protestors have cost our state over $10 million and have caused millions of dollars in
damage to vehicles, equipment, property and livestock owned by; private corporations, citizens,
family farms, our military and government agencies. Slaughtering privately owned livestock,
throwing molotov cocktails and assaulting our law enforcement officers is not the military
manner in which our veterans behave and not the kind of assembly and actions veterans should
be a part of. Participating in this kind of assembly, even as a peaceful bystander or participant,
will only mar the image of veterans in our nation.
Opponents to the DAPL have defaced the North Dakota Pillar of the WWII monument located at
the National Mall in Washington DC and defaced the North Dakota State Capital. It is degrading
to a veteran to see the American Flag desecrated, improperly displayed and disrespected. This
has been happening daily at the DAPL protest sites. Standing by those who conduct or have
conducted this type of behavior cannot instill a good image on our veterans or our veteran
community. The VSSRs decision to involve themselves with this unlawful activity is
unnecessary, disgraceful and not reflective of the veteran community. Their intention to protest

on December 7th the 75th anniversary of the attacks on Pearl Harbor is an insult to the remaining
few WWII veterans of ND.
For these reasons and more the North Dakota Veterans Coordinating Council (NDVCC) which is
made up of the American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign
War, and the Vietnam Veterans of America adamantly opposes anyone representing themselves
as a U.S. military veteran or a Veterans Organization to associate or involve themselves with
illegal activities that have occurred or take part in any unlawful or unbecoming conduct or
assembly in protest to the DAPL. The NDVCC also urges the veterans and Veterans
Organizations of North Dakota to stay clear of all activities or assemblies involving the DAPL in
support of neither the protestors nor the law enforcement officers as adding more people to the
area only creates more tension which increases the burden on the law enforcement and military
forces on the ground.

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