London: Solidarity vigil for Standing Rock

Members of Catholic Justice and Peace groups will be joining peaceful protests in the City of London on Thursday, against banks which are funding the $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline through the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota, USA. The project threatens to cut through an ancient burial ground, and prayer sites. It also endangers the Missouri River which supplies water to 17 million people. Under an 1851 treaty, the land belongs to the Sioux tribe.

Many thousands of Native Americans from across the continent have been taking part in peaceful prayer vigils for months at the site. They have been supported by politicians, church leaders and celebrities - among them Ben Affleck, Leonardo Di Caprio, Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon, Robert Redford, Neil Young and many more.

Earlier this month, a group of several hundred church leaders held an ecumenical prayer service at Standing Rock to demonstrate their solidarity. (See: www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=31273 )

In recent weeks, the US military has moved in against the unarmed demonstrators using tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and water cannons. Several protestors have been seriously injured.

The pipeline project is funded by many of the major banking firms, so on Thursday, 1st December, campaigners around the world will be holding vigils outside their offices.

In London, campaigners will be meeting outside The Royal Bank of Scotland London 280 Bishopsgate, EC2M 4RB on Thursday, 1 December from 8-11am.

For more information see the Facebook event page.