Rapper Vic Mensa spent Thanksgiving weekend at the Standing Rock Native American Reservation, joining the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Mensa filmed his journey on Facebook Live and posted various photos on Instagram, urging his fans and viewers to stand with the indigenous people’s fight against the $3.7 billion, 1,172 mile pipeline.
If completed, the pipeline will run over 470,000 barrels of crude oil per day through the sacred lands. An independent report also suggests the U.S. government has underestimated the risk of a leak in the pipeline, which would contaminate the area’s water supply.
Mensa wrote, “if you believe in the inalienable rights of people; the right to clean drinking water, the right to food & shelter and the right to freedom then you have to support standing rock. Get on a plane, drive, take a bus do whatever you have to do. December 5th the Army Corps has set an ultimatum for the people camped at standing rock, saying that they will forcibly remove the water protectors. When one of our freedom is on the line all of our freedom is on the line. Fight for freedom.”
Taking to Twitter Monday, the rapper added “standing rock is BLM. standing rock is LGBTQ rights. standing rock is the latino struggle.”
Vic Mensa isn’t new to speaking out against injustice. He continues to be a vocal supporter of Black Lives Matter and marched in various protests after the death of Laquan McDonald and others whose lives were lost at the hands of the police.
He also teamed up with artists Halsey, Lil B and Le1f for “Free Love,” a six-minute track depicting the struggles of the LGBTQ communities after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, FL.
According to webzine Variance, Mensa will return to Standing Rock on December 4, the day before the federal officials say they will close the protesters’ campsite.
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