Participants in the Standing Rock 4 Corners March in September head down East Eight Avenue. Fort Lewis College students who have supported protests by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe against the Dakota Access Pipeline plan to hold a rally in front of the $46.5 million Boot Jack Ranch, which is owned by Kelcy Warren, CEO of Energy Transfer Partners, the corporation behind the pipeline.
Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald file
Protestors supporting the Standing Rock Sioux objections to the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline march along the College Avenue in Durango on Tuesday heading toward the Wells Fargo branch. The demonstrators object to the bank’s financing of the project. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Protestors supporting the Standing Rock Sioux objections to the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline march along Main Avenue in Durango on Tuesday heading toward the Wells Fargo branch. The demonstrators object to the bank’s financing of the project. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
A protestor supporting the Standing Rock Sioux objections to the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline carries a sign as demonstrators circle Durango’s Wells Fargo branch on College Avenue on Tuesday. The protestors object to the bank’s financing of the controversial project. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
A protestor supporting the Standing Rock Sioux objections to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline carries a sign as demonstrators circle the Wells Fargo bank on College Avenue. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Protestors supporting the Standing Rock Sioux objections to the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline circle the Wells Fargo bank on College Avenue in Durango on Tuesday. The demonstrators object to the bank’s financing of the project. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Protestors supporting the Standing Rock Sioux objections to the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline turn from Main Avenue onto College Avenue on Tuesday. They were headed to the Durango branch of Wells Fargo Bank to protest the financing of the pipeline. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Protestors supporting the Standing Rock Sioux objections to the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline circle the Wells Fargo Bank branch in Durango on Tuesday. Demonstrators object to the bank’s financing of the pipeline. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Fort Lewis College students and volunteers load supplies into vehicles early Tuesday morning. The group will caravan to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to support protesters opposing to the Dakota Access Pipeline. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Organized by Dr. Anthony J. Nocella, assistant professor of sociology and criminology at Fort Lewis College, center left, students and volunteers load supplies into vehicles early Tuesday morning on campus. The group will caravan to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to support the protesters opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Fort Lewis College senior John Moya, carries a box of supplies to waiting vehicles early Tuesday morning. Students and volunteers loaded vehicles on campus for a caravan to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. The group is headed to South Dakota to support protesters who oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Arriving at sunrise, Fort Lewis College students and volunteers load supplies into vehicles on campus on Tuesday for a caravan to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The group is headed to South Dakota to support protesters who oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Fort Lewis College senior Justin Succo lends a helping hand to a friend who is participating in a 16-hour caravan to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. The group left Tuesday morning, and it plans to join protesters who object to the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline near the reservation. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
A caravan of cars with Fort Lewis College students and volunteers prepares to leave campus Tuesday morning. The caravan is driving to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to support protesters who oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline. Photo by Shaun Stanley/Durango Herald
Fort Lewis College protesters in support of Standing Rock Sioux’s objections to a pipeline have organized yet another demonstration: This time they are taking it to the front door of the pipeline’s CEO’s luxury ranch in Pagosa Springs.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, FLC students are calling for all those opposed to the Dakota Access Pipeline to stand at the entrance of the Boot Jack Ranch, owned by Kelcy Warren, CEO of Energy Transfer Partners, the corporation behind the pipeline.
The ranch, about 12 miles east of Pagosa Springs on the north side of U.S. Highway 160, is a sprawling 3,500-acre luxury resort which can house 50 guests, contains six lakes, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a 1,500-bottle wine cellar.
Warren, a Texas billionaire, purchased the 14,000-square-foot home and property for $46.5 million in 2010, The Wall Street Journal reported.
“We need to make sure to put pressure on neighbors and the community to let them know there are people in our community that don’t support and respect indigenous, native treaties, burial grounds and lands,” said Anthony Nocella, a sociology professor at FLC.
FLC student Sidney Kibotie said it’s important to highlight Warren’s apparent lack of understanding of the “environmental impact” or the effect on “indigenous peoples” the pipeline would have.
“I don’t think he’s aware of the human rights he’s been stepping on in order to make a monetary profit,” Kibotie said. “So it’s important he understands people do not stand with him in Durango.”
Thursday’s protest is another in a long line of Standing Rock protests organized by the college. FLC held a march Sept. 10, traveled to Standing Rock, North Dakota, last week, held a protest Sunday when students returned, and plan another rally this Monday.
“I think people are motivated and empowered,” said Nocella, one of the protest’s main organizers.
“Two things we really care about at FLC is indigenous people and native issues and environmental issues. And what is Standing Rock more about than those two issues?”
According to The Pagosa Sun, a separate group of protesters took to Warren’s estate last Sunday. The paper said the protest remained peaceful.
For months, members of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation have stood in protest of an oil pipeline they say would threaten the tribe’s drinking water, tribal lands and burial grounds.
Last Friday, federal authorities said they will close down the protest camps by Dec. 5.
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