Authorities on Monday defended their decision to douse protesters with water during a skirmish in subfreezing weather near the Dakota Access oil pipeline, and organizers said at least 17 protesters were taken to the hospital — including some who were treated for hypothermia. Protesters trying to push past a long-blocked bridge on a state highway late Sunday and early Monday were turned back by authorities using tear gas, rubber bullets and water hoses. Although Goldtooth said a water cannon was used to douse the protesters, Morton County Sheriff's spokesman Rob Keller denied that. "Water hoses were used to keep distance between officers and criminal agitators and also to put out fires set by those agitators," he said. The 1,200-mile, four-state pipeline is being built to carry oil from western North Dakota to a shipping point in Illinois.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 21, 2016 16:30 UTC