As the heavily militarised state violence mounts against the protesters who've been standing against the Dakota Access Pipeline, scores of American veterans are headed to Standing Rock to join the protest and act as "human shields". The organised alliance calling themselves 'Veterans Stand for Standing Rock' managed to raise over $640,000 via crowdfunding and have announced that they will join the indigenous activists and other protesters from December 4th to 7th. Given the societal tension and divide in America right now, this act by some 2,000 veterans demonstrates what real 'coming together' and solidarity in the face of oppression looks like.

Following Order To Evacuate, Veterans Vow To Act As Human Shields For Standing Rock Protestors

Mint Press News: As protesters against the North Dakota Access pipeline face increasing violence from law enforcement, more than 2,000 veterans have pledged to serve as “human shields,” with some arriving on Wednesday.

Organizers of the event titled Veterans Stand for Standing Rock said that from Dec. 4 – 7, veterans will defend protesters from “assault and intimidation at the hands of the militarized police.”

The group had originally envisioned a cavalry of about 500 vets. But the call-out for support soon received such an overwhelming response that they had to limit the number of sign-ups to 2,000.

Their GoFund me campaign, which originally had a goal of $200,000, has already reached more than $640,000, which organizers say will go towards transportation and other logistical matters such as setting up campMORE