Emotional Letter from House Democratic Members Does Not Reflect Facts

An emotional letter sent by Reps. Grijalva (D-AZ), Huffman (D-CA), and 21 Members of Congress to the White House, once again ignores the reality that the protests in Cannonball, North Dakota have not been peaceful.

Professional agitators have set fires, slaughtered livestock, fired at gun at law enforcement officers, burned a bridge,terrorized journalists, and repeatedly trespassed on private property.

Meanwhile, the Federal government has already refused help to law enforcement, who according to this most recent letter are “militarized,” despite the fact that the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have upheld the permitting and found that the project should continue.

In fact, there is no acknowledgement in the letter of the thousands of men and women legally working to construct the project, or the hundreds of law enforcement officials in North Dakota who have been attacked, mocked, harassed, and threatened by the “peaceful protesters.” No mention is made that they’ve faced barricades and Molotov Cocktails.

The signatories on the letter along with Congressman Grijalva and Huffman are Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), John Conyers (D-MI), Sam Farr (D-CA), Mike Honda (D-CA), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Barbara Lee (D-CA), John Lewis (D-GA), Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), and Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL).