I am one of a group of Native American activists and allies who have been protesting an oil pipeline that is set to cross the Missouri River a mile away from the Standing Rock reservation, and threatens to poison our water. For months, we have been peacefully working to stop construction on what we see as a threat to the safety of all people, yet we have been met with only violence and mistreatment by law enforcement for doing what we believe is right.

The county sheriff is not doing his job, which is to protect all people in Morton County. Sign my petition asking Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem to conduct an ethics investigation into Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier and remove him from office.

Under his leadership, Morton County police have failed to protect peaceful North Dakotans from vicious dog attacks, unleashed by a private security company. Sheriff Kirchmeier has displayed bias on Facebook and in media interviews, and has withheld information from North Dakotan residents in order to further the agenda of the Dakota Access LLC.

In addition, activists are being constantly surveilled and questioned, then met with road blocks as they try to reach the camps. The sheriff’s office has regularly accused us of harassing ranchers and farmers in spite of our peaceful actions, and charges brought against nonviolent water protectors have increased. Even Amy Goodman, a renowned journalist who was present at an action, has had a warrant issued for her arrest – a clear violation of freedom of the press. The Morton County Sheriff’s Department response to our peaceful protests has been so severe that the ACLU is investigating whether they have violated the constitution.

Please join me in asking for the immediate removal of Sheriff Kirchmeier.

As citizens of this country we have the right to participate in peaceful protest without being met by a militarized and biased police force more interested in protecting corporate interests than the people of North Dakota.