The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Observes the Situation on the Ground in Standing Rock

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to a request from the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, a delegation of U.S. Civil Rights Commissioners and staff have been in Standing Rock to observe and with a goal of meeting with a broad range of actors involved in the impasse: tribal leaders, water protectors, civil society organizations, and government authorities.

The Commission has observed the enthusiasm of many in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' recent decision regarding denial of a grant of easement.

"Despite the decision to deny the easement, the Commission intends to continue our examination of potential civil rights violations that may have occurred during the impasse," Chairman Martin R. Castro said.

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency charged with advising the President and Congress on civil rights matters and issuing an annual federal civil rights enforcement report. For information about the Commission, please visit http://www.usccr.gov and follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/usccrgov

Media contact: Brian Walch
Email: publicaffairs@usccr.gov
Tel: 202-376-8371

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SOURCE U.S. Commission on Civil Rights