Demonstrators arrested for attaching themselves to Dakota Access heavy machinery

Dakota Access has agreed to not drill under the Missouri River while the company and those opposing its pipeline await rulings on some court decisions.

However, construction has continued elsewhere. And today, protesters targeted one of those spots.​

One site had to shut down for the day after protesters found an effective way to block their work.

Police shut down Highway 6 for several hours as protesters take their fight directly to Dakota Access.

"The pipeline is getting too close and we don't need it that close to where the boundary is at. Enough was enough," said Cody Hall, South Dakota protester.

Two people attached themselves to heavy machinery and another was arrested in the early morning for protesting at a Dakota Access Pipeline site south of Mandan.

One of the attached protesters was immediately arrested. Dale American Horse Jr. was stuck so tight in a pipe wrapped with tar and chicken wire, he remained for several hours.

"This is a non-violent action. We came here to disrupt which we are. We're still in the process," said Hall.

Police had to move protesters away from the backhoe. Some refused and were arrested in the process.

"This is just another way that those in power use police presence to oppress people who again are already marginalized and fighting to protect our planet," said Juliana Britto-Schwartz, California protester.

Of the eight arrested, six were from out of state.

"All these other individuals who don't live here are going to go home and go to different locations, but we're still here trying to be neighbors and making sure that our relationships are not damaged in this," said Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier.

American Horse, of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, was finally removed from the excavator in the early afternoon.

"I'm feeling pretty sad at the state of North Dakota for defending the oil companies and oppressing the people," said American Horse.

As soon as American Horse was loaded in a police car, work on the Dakota Access Pipeline resumed.

Including the eight arrested today, 37 people have now been arrested for protesting the pipeline. Those arrested today were:

Jeremiah IronRoad, 25, Cannonball, ND (individual was secured to equipment)

Criminal Trespass, Obstruct Government Function

Dale “Happy” American Horse Jr., 26, Sioux Falls, SD (individual was secured to equipment)

Prevent Arrest, Criminal Trespass, Obstruct Government Function

Lisa Winter, 47, St. Louis, Mo. (individual was standing on equipment)

Prevent Arrest, Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Trespass

Elizabeth Branham, 25, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX

Obstruct Government Function, Disorderly Conduct

Maxfield Estela, 26, Edmonds, WA

Obstruct Government Function, Disorderly Conduct

James Ironeyes, 52, Fort Yates, ND

Obstruct Government Function, Disorderly Conduct

Wicahpiluta Candelaria, 34, Sanleandro, CA

Obstruct Government Function, Disorderly Conduct