About a thousand people filled the Ballard Locks parking lot Tuesday night.
The vigil and protest, mainly led by local Native American leaders, was in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux tribe of North Dakota, and others around the country.
However, people from all walks of life came out, including many environmentalists.
“Money is not going to feed us in the future, and we have to make a point to show we stand with the environment,” said one woman in the crowd.
Though only gaining widespread attention in recent months, the Standing Rock tribe has been trying to prevent an oil pipeline from being dug under the Missouri River reservoir since 2014. The river is the main source of drinking water for the not just the 10,000 Native Americans but many more downstream.
“If we don’t stand up for our water, we are not going to have clean water for our children,” said one of the event organizers.
Monday, the Army Corps of Engineers said because of historical injustices and environmental concerns, it needed more time to review the project. The review is why the Seattle group and others around the country gathered outside Army Corps sites like the Ballard Locks.
The Locks just down early in anticipation of the protest, but at the end of the evening people gathered around the gates beating drums and chanting.
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