Rousey arrives at Standing Rock to help fight Trump pipeline revival
Former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey may be about to start a new fight. The Sioux tribe of Standing Rock…
Former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey may be about to start a new fight.
The Sioux tribe of Standing Rock has engaged in a protracted campaign to divert the $3.8 billion Dakota Access oil pipeline, over concerns that it could contaminate drinking water and ruin sacred grounds. The standoff escalated late last year to the point that rubber bullets and water cannons were fired at unarmed protesters. Eventually, the US Army Corps of Engineers, with the support of then-President Barack Obama, denied a permit to dig the pipeline under the Missouri River just upstream of the reservation, pending further environmental research.
However, on Tuesday President Donald Trump signed an executive order overturning the decision.
That did not sit well with a number of people, including Rousey. TMZ reports that ‘Rowdy’ and fellow Olympic Judoka Pauline Macias journeyed to the protest site in North Dakota to deliver supplies including fresh fruit, veggies, bread, tents and wood-burning stoves. The trip was reportedly low key, with Rousey staying under the media’s radar.
Macias referenced Rousey’s presence via her social network.
Rousey met local protesters Linda Black Elk and Juliana WhiteBull among others.
Rousey has left, but told Black Elk she would return to if necessary “get pepper sprayed alongside everyone else,” according to TMZ. “She’s an incredible person and just so humble,” Black Elk said … noting Ronda’s visit was an incredible “moral booster” to the people fighting against the
“She’s an incredible person and just so humble,” said Black Elk, who mentioned that Rousey “still felt like a disappointment,” and that, “everyone was upset with her.”
Black Elk said the opposite was true.
“It was very important for me to let her know just how important she is for the Native community in particular,” said the activist.
Rousey was a supporter of Bernie Sanders during the election, and let her feelings be known when Trump claimed her as a supporter. In return, when she lost to Holly Holm, Trump offered one of his infamous tweets.
Glad to see that @RondaRousey lost her championship fight last night. Was soundly beaten – not a nice person!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2015
“>@RondaRousey lost her championship fight last night. Was soundly beaten – not a nice person!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Glad to see that @RondaRousey lost her championship fight last night. Was soundly beaten – not a nice person!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2015
“>November 16, 2015
By the time Rousey fought again, a loss to new champion Amanda Nunes at UFC 207, Trump was the President Elect. He was elected with the prominent support of a number of figures in MMA including Miesha Tate, Chris Weidman, Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone, and UFC president Dana White, who spoke at the Republican convention.