Opponents of Dakota Access Pipeline seek support in Twin Cities

It's been the focus of a major protest in North Dakota and now the opponents of a huge oil pipeline are seeking support in the Twin Cities.

The line would pump thousands of gallons of crude oil from the Bakken oil fields each day, but construction is tied up in a court battle.

Opponents have been lining up support from cities across the country. A resolution in Minneapolis added to their arsenal days after receiving similar support from St. Paul.

“We see here is a grassroots elevating movement elevating into a moment of the cities taking recognition and standing in opposition of this rather foolish plan,” Joe Bobot, a pipeline opponent, said.

The Dakota Access Pipeline would run nearly 1,200 miles from the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota along the Minnesota Border across Iowa to a refinery in Illinois.

For months, members of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe have been protesting at the pipeline's construction site in North Dakota.

One week ago, the tribe asked a federal judge in Washington, D.C. for an injunction, arguing a leak would be catastrophic to their people. A ruling on that injunction is expected by Sept. 9.

The pipeline fight comes amid rising concerns about oil trains rolling through Minnesota and train opponents see a pipeline as appealing.

But, opponents say a pipeline does not replace rails and argue neither option for transporting oil is safe.

“Pipelines don't necessarily make any difference relative to rail because both are equally awful,” Kathy Hollander of Minnesota 350 said. “One spills, the other one explodes - pipelines tend to spill more.”