Following candidate’s responses to a debate question inside the Belle Mehus Auditorium, protest organizer Joye Braun walked down one of the aisles toward the stage, beginning a tirade against the pipeline project and oil and gas development in general.
Republican Party candidate Doug Burgum, state Rep. Marvin Nelson, D-Rolla, and Marty Riske of the Libertarian Party looked on from their podiums as the disruption unfolded over several minutes.
“We will never allow this pipeline through!” Braun shouted, prompting dozens of fellow protesters to rise in unison and begin chanting “water is life,” and heckling the candidates.
“You have to listen to the people,” Braun said, while North Dakota Newspaper Association officials sponsoring the debate tried to calm things down. “You need to stop fracking because it’s poisoning our water.”
Nearly one-third of the crowd of about 175 people walked out and continued their demonstration outside, which could still be heard for some time from inside the venue as the debate resumed. The protesters were among a group of more than 100 that gathered to demonstrate outside the venue as the doors opened.
