Dakota Access Pipeline Protester Could Lose Arm Because of Police Standoff

Sunday’s confrontation between Dakota Access oil pipeline protesters (or "water protectors," as they have called themselves) and police could cost protester Sophia Wilansky an arm after police reportedly threw a grenade, said Wilansky’s father Wayne, according to the Associated Press. The confrontation comes after pipeline protests earlier this month saw 14 people arrested at North Dakota’s State Capitol.

Wilansky, a 21-year-old from New York, underwent multiple surgeries in a Minneapolis hospital for the arm injury, Wayne said Tuesday. Wilansky is said to be in serious condition.

According to Wayne, Wilansky said police threw a grenade at her during the confrontation in North Dakota near a camp site along the pipeline. However, the Morton County Sheriff's Office said concussion grenades were not used, nor were devices that produce a flash or loud sound. The sheriff’s office speculated the explosion may have been from small propane tanks, which law enforcement said protesters tampered to explode. The North Dakota Highway Patrol released a statement saying protesters had been spotted with “multiple silver cylinder objects" thought to be the tanks "including one that appeared to be intentionally punctured."

Wilansky released a statement through Wayne Tuesday describing the clash between protesters and police in which police also used water cannons (in freezing temperatures), pepper spray, and rubber bullets:

"This is not Afghanistan, this is not Iraq. We don't throw grenades at people," Wayne said about police tactics.

A GoFundMe for Wilansky has raised $248,000 so far.