DAPL protests: peaceful or not?

Monday's protests at a Dakota Access Pipeline construction site south of St. Anthony on Highway 6 were described by law enforcement as a riot. Others say the actions of the activists were peaceful.

We will let you decide. The following video and dialogue takes you right into the middle of the conflict. Here is the raw video captured at the Dakota Access Pipeline construction site Monday.

Masked protesters confronted the KFYR-TV News Crew covering the event and threatened to take their camera. Other masked demonstrators threatened the crew with bodily harm and forced them to leave a public roadway.

The story you are about to read contains strong language that had to be censored at times, per Federal Communications Commission regulations.

"It appears at this time to be a pretty volatile situation," said Lt. Tom Iverson, North Dakota Highway Patrol.

"You guys need to take his camera," said a protester.

"While some would like to say this was a protest, this was not a protest. This was a riot," said Cass County Sheriff Paul D. Laney.

"We are here to stop this pipeline by any means necessary," said Kanahus Manuel Freedom, British Columbia.

"Who said you can come in here?" said a protester.

"Our car is over here," said a KFYR-TV reporter.

"You guys need to go to your car and get the f**k out of here then," said a protester.

"Don't talk to us like that, sir. There is no need to talk to us that way," said a KFYR-TV reporter.

"I don't care. You don't need to post bulls**t. Keep it moving," said a protester.

"There were situations where people who were there - legitimate media that was there to film it - were being stopped," said Laney.

"Do you have a press pass?" Protester

"Were being questioned as to their credentials," said Laney.

"Put your hand in front of his camera," said a protester.

"Who are they to ask this? They're on somebody else's property," said Laney.

"Shut the f**k up. If you keep talking dude I'm going to f**king kick your ass bro," said a protester.

"There was a lot of bad behavior today that took it up a notch," said Laney.

"Can't drink oil, keep it in the soil. Water is life," said protesters.

"Not a peaceful protest, not a prayerful protest. They say that but they disguise their criminal behavior behind it," said Laney.

"I ask you to control your emotions," said a protester.

"You guys, tensions are high here. It's probably best to leave," said a protester.

"Who are you working for?" asked a protester.

"You can not take your ideology and belief, no matter how strongly you believe in it, and trespass on somebody else's land. Use your ideology to break the rule of law, or trample somebody else's or another citizen's rights because you believe your belief is stronger than theirs. That's not how it works in America," said Laney.

"We stand for water," say protesters.

"We don't make the law, we enforce the law. And the courts have spoken, and they have said the company can work past the 20 mile exclusion," said Laney.

"The whole world is with us. The whole world is watching," said a protester.

Twenty-seven-arrests were made Monday, the single-highest total since demonstrations began two months ago.