The protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock in North Dakota have been in the news of late. Locals peacefully gathered to stand against the pipeline, which was initially planned to run through a sacred Native American burial ground, potentially risking contamination of the community's local water source. Musicians have been among the most vocal against the pipeline, including the ever-outspoken Dee Snider.

His music video (premiered by Noisey) for the We Are the Ones track "So What" was shot in a documentarian style depicting the peaceful protestors and the violence they faced at the hands of brutal assailants attempting to thwart the protest. The gentle strumming of the acoustic guitar clashes with Snider's angsty voice, a picture-perfect mood portraying both serenity and aggression, much like what was seen at Standing Rock.

The end of the video describes some of the atrocities the peaceful protestors endured, like a nine hour bombardment of "flash bang grenades, tear gas, mace, rubber bullets and water cannons in subfreezing conditions." The text also detailed "21-year-old Sophia Wilanski, whose arm was blown apart by a flash bang grenade," though the police would describe her wounds as "self-inflicted."

"The level of human rights abuse going on at Standing Rock at the hands of state and local authorities and the private security hired by the oil companies is simply mind numbing," Snider told Noisey. "And their suppression of the media has taken First Amendment violating to a whole new level. I started fighting censorship over 30 years ago and sadly I'm still fighting."

The video also notes that "despite wearing media badges, Dee Snider's film crew were tear gassed, targeted and shot with rubber bullets, in an unconstitutional suppression of free press."

“To see U.S. government state and local authorities, along with hired private security, use this type of extreme violent force against unarmed American citizens in peaceful prayer is the saddest, most disturbing thing I have ever experienced. I’m glad we were there to capture the truth for all to see," he told The New York Post's Page Six.

Since this video was made, the Dakota Access Pipeline project was denied by the Army Corps of Engineers, but the Energy Transfer Partners have been defiant in obeying these federal orders.

Dee Snider's latest solo record, We Are the Ones, was released in October earlier this year. Fans can purchase the album, which is a departure from his Twisted Sister days with a focus more on the hard rock side of things, at Amazon.

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