Award-winning group raises funds for Water Protector legal fund


Supporters of Steve Martinez, who was ordered to appear before a federal grand jury before prosecutors dropped the request, gathered at the federal courthouse in Bismarck, North Dakota, on January 4, 2017. Photo: Water Protector Legal Collective

Opponents of the Dakota Access Pipeline are getting a boost from The Lumineers music group.

The award-winning band is hosting a concert on March 26 to raise funds for the Water Protector Legal Collective, which has been providing legal services for people who have been arrested in connection with the controversial project. The money also will benefit Unicorn Riot, an independent news organization that provided on-the-ground coverage during some of the crucial moments of the #NoDAPL movement.

"By supporting the Water Protectors Legal Collective we hope to get all Water Protectors back to the front lines to continue their fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline and for clean, healthy water," group members Wesley Schultz, Jeremiah Fraites and Neyla Pekarek j said in a statement on Monday.


More than 800 people have been arrested by authorities in North Dakota for engaging in activities related to the pipeline. Some are facing serious charges in the state and federal courts but a number of felony and misdemeanor cases have been dropped due to lack of evidence. Many consider the charges to be baseless.

“I will in no way condone or cooperate with this attempt to repress the movement here at Standing Rock,” Steve Martinez, who was refusing to testify before a federal grand jury until prosecutors dropped the request, said in a press release last week.

The Lumineers' concert takes place March 26 at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa. Tickets go on sale at 12pm Central on Saturday.

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