VeteransRespond & Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center present
Warrior’s Call: The Fight to Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline
3pm, January 8, 2017 in Asbury Hall at Babeville, Buffalo NY

“They established a command team and an operational TOC, and are assisting with safety and security operations in the camp. I'm honored to have met these incredible Veterans, who inspire as they continue their mission of service.” Tulsi Gabbard - Congresswoman, Hawaii 2nd district.

VeteransRespond, a new service organization founded in December 2016 by disabled veterans that were part of the advanced team at Standing Rock, is excited to announce their special presentation, Warrior’s Call: The Fight to Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. The event will feature United States Veterans who stood at Standing Rock, and Special Guest Lakota Akicita Warrior and leader, Michael Mato Tanka, as they share their personal journeys supporting the Oceti Sakowin Natives and helping to protect their water in Standing Rock, ND. With unflinching candor and inspiring insight, Matthew Crane (US Navy), Joseph George (US Air Force), Brandee Paisano (US Navy and Pueblo-Laguna Native), Mark Sanderson (US Army and Purple Heart recipient), and Neil Conway (US NAVY) refract the eternal narrative of the returning warrior who battles to reconcile their actions and their hearts, driven by a deep desire to stand on the right side of history. With a special appearance by Michael Mato Tanka (Oglala Lakota and descendant of Chief Red Cloud, Michael is also US Marine and Akicita Warrior), Warrior’s Call reveals what brought the Veterans to Standing Rock, what they brought away from Standing Rock, and what we can all bring to the fight for our rights and our future. Moderated by Actor/Producer Peter Johnson, and with a special guest Erin Heaney of SURJ (Showing up for Racial Justice), this special event is a chance to hear first hand what the new domestic battlefields look like, and how we all can heed the warrior’s call to action.

VeteransRespond works to organize and coordinate highly trained Veteran volunteers to provide relief and service work in environmental and man-made disaster sites all across the United States. The organization was born out of the Standing Rock movement, which saw more than 4,000 veterans mobilize to Camp Oceti in defense of the Water Protectors and those standing against the Dakota Access Pipeline Project (DAPL). The overwhelming numbers and presence of these veterans, (500 had originally been expected), helped to pressure the federal government into responding and finally denying the easement needed to drill under Lake Oahe. DAPL, a 1,172-mile pipeline to transport crude oil across the Midwest, jeopardizes the drinking water of millions of Americans, while simultaneously desecrating the sacred ground of the Lakota/Sioux nation. As sworn defenders of our country, these Veterans felt called to use their training and skills to protect civilians against the domestic violence they witnessed, as manifested in the brutal tactics being deployed against them. For some, that call to action became a journey to healing and ongoing community activism.

Warrior’s Call: The Fight to Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline is a free and open to the public. General Admission seating: doors open at 3:00pm on Sunday, January 8, 2017, with the call starting at 3:30pm. 

Presented in Asbury Hall at Babeville, 341 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 14202 on Sunday, January 8, 2017.
Contact: Matthew Crane, matthewcrane24@gmail.com, 716.713.4540
For more information visit www.veteransrespond.org