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Millions check-in on Facebook to site of pipeline protest in attempt to interfere with LE

The check-ins were organized to prevent police from ‘tracking protesters’ - an allegation that local law enforcement says is false

By Police1 Staff

CANNON BALL, N.D. — In an effort to block law enforcement from “tracking protesters” on social media, millions of people checked-in on Facebook to the site of ongoing protests in North Dakota.

A Facebook post went viral asking those in solidarity with the Dakota Access Pipeline protesters to check-in on social media to prevent law enforcement tracking.

Members of more than 90 Native American nations have come together on the Standing Rock Reservation to protest the construction of the pipeline, according to The Guardian. The members said it can potentially jeopardize the water supply and threaten sacred tribal sites.

“Water Protectors are calling on everyone to check-in at Standing Rock, ND to overwhelm and confuse them [police],” the Facebook post read.

“[The Morton County Sheriff’s Department is] not monitoring Facebook check-ins for the protest camp or any location for that matter. These rumors/claims are completely false,” a spokesperson for the department said in a statement.

Protesters and authorities have accused each other of violent tactics. Last week, more than 140 people were arrested, according to the publication.