Dear Governor Mead,

As concerned citizens of the State of Wyoming, we express our urgent objection to the Wyoming Highway Patrol’s sending of six troopers to Standing Rock and participating in the despicable display of violence against Native Americans in their defense of life and water. We hereby stand in solidarity with Wyoming's Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes and express our support not for “protesters” but for the Native American protectors of water in North Dakota. Dean Goggles, chairman of Northern Arapaho Business Council, clearly outlined the intent of the protectors: “The North Dakota tribes and tribal members from around the nation are attempting to protect both the environment and sites which have ceremonial, religious and cultural significance to the tribes. ” Jason Baldes, a member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and staff member at the Wind River Native Advocacy Center, has also expressed his concern that troopers are in North Dakota to support the DAPL company. “It kind of sheds light on really who’s running the show here,” Baldes said. “The oil and gas industry really has the final say, and has the politicians and our elected leaders in their pockets.”

The planned oil pipeline threatens the access to clean water for the North Dakota Sioux tribe, and for all people who live along the Missouri River. The same company that is behind the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, Sunoco Logistics, has a track record of pipeline leaks in other parts of the country. Only last Friday, 55,000 gallons of gasoline were leaked into the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. As you, Governor Mead stated, Wyoming has not taken a position on the pipeline controversy. Wyoming should not be part of the violence against Native Americans and human rights violations against the protectors at Standing Rock.

We urge you to withdraw the troopers immediately.