I'm not trying to minimize the black lives matter movement but this isn't the first time that the government has completely abused their power of authority on minorities with violence during peaceful protests.
I was at the Standing Rock protests in 2016.
#GeorgeFloydprotest

In 2014 an oil company invests 3.8 million dollars to build pipelines through the Standing Rock Sioux reserve. In april of 2016 the tribe started peacefully protesting they established camps that would later lead to thousands.

in august, there were NO mainstream media talking about the protest. I had an internet friend in texas and she had no idea that there was a war going on a few states away...
it makes me happy to see things improving that George floyd is getting publicity.

a few months later in July when I started camping there, army corps grants pipeline permits at more than 200 water crossings.
this month goes by so fast because of how scary it was for me. I was only 13 watching the government not care about my culture that I love so much

in august, they started arresting people for protesting and we started getting some media because they arrested the actress Shailene Woodly and green party presidential candidate Jill Stein

In nov everyone is still camping out but this is the scariest time for me to be there for. I was helping out in the medic tent because I wanted to be a nurse but it was surreal. it literally looked like soldiers returning from war but our side was never fighting.

Authorities were using tear gas, rubber bullets, and water sprays on protesters who allegedly assaulted officers. in the medic tent, I saw my brother come in and he got shot with a bullet it was so scary. 17 people had to go to the hospital.

Another event in november of 2016 Donald Trump was elected president. It felt like such a huge loss because every single native american knew he wouldn't help us. We were at war and in January trump signs an executive action to advance the pipeline’s construction.

there are so many opposing views on why the pipeline should or should not be built. Some people had views saying they wanted it for more jobs. But the land it was on was a reserve that belonged to the standing rock Sioux tribe. We don't want oil in our land or our water.

EVERY. SINGLE. PIPELINE. BREAKS.
this was our biggest argument on why we wouldn't want oil in our land. Putting in that pipeline is just for money while you harm the earth and the people who drink the water.

in april of 2017 84 leaks were reported from the DAPL pipeline that we were trying so hard to avoid.