Group rallies against N.D. oil pipeline in downtown Idaho Falls

A small group of Eastern Idaho residents braved the cold temperatures Sunday to stand on the Broadway Bridge in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe out of North Dakota.

“There are so many reasons why it is important to me,” protester Kimberly Zwygart said when asked why she was taking part in the solidarity movement.

The two-dozen or so who gathered on the bridge say they got together to show the thousands braving the sub-zero temperatures and blizzard conditions in Cannon Ball, ND that they were supported.

“These are the people who are native of our land and police are being militarized by a company that doesn’t even belong in America,” Zwygart said.

The Idaho Falls protesters held sign and flags as the waved to the hundreds of cars who drove passed them during the seven-hour get-together.

“It is important to keep the land safe for our children,” said Zwygart. “Our children’s children and the future generations and we don’t want it to affect this,” she said referencing the water in the Snake River behind her.

Zwygart says despite the Army Corp of Engineers halting the project a week ago, supporters of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe are not backing down.

“This is not over,” said Zwygart. “The company that is drilling has come out and said we will just pay the $50,000 a day. Basically, Jan. 1st, if they don’t get this pipeline built going, they are going to start losing a lot of money. They are not backing down and neither will we.”

Tensions between protesters in Cannon Ball and police are letting up.

Over the weekend, law enforcement met with Tribe leaders and agreed to pull back forces at the Backwater Bridge, where protesters have clashed with police.

“If you go down there now, you’re going to see nothing. What you will see now are the barricades, you’re going to see the jersey barriers,” said Cass County, N.D., Sherriff, Paul Laney

Members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe fear the close proximity of the pipeline to native land could hurt the tribe’s water supply and economy. Those who support the pipeline believe it will make America more self-reliant on oil.

The company behind the pipeline, Energy Transfer Partners, out of Dallas, has vowed to finish the project.

President-elect Donald Trump supports the pipeline. He says he will take a look at it after he takes office in January.