Neil Young wants Obama to end 'violence' at pipeline protest

BISMARCK, N.D. | Neil Young is calling on President Barack Obama “to step in and end” what he calls the “violence” against protesters demonstrating against an oil pipeline being built in North Dakota on part of an Indian reservation.

FILE - In this May 18, 2016, file photo, Neil Young poses for a portrait in Calabasas, Calif., to promote his new album, "Earth." Young penned an open letter on Facebook posted on Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, in which he calls for President Barack Obama “to step in and end” what he calls the “violence” against protesters demonstrating against an oil pipeline being built on part of an Indian reservation in North Dakota. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File) — FILE – In this May 18, 2016, file photo, Neil Young poses for a portrait in Calabasas, Calif., to promote his new album, “Earth.” Young penned an open letter on Facebook posted on Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, in which he calls for President Barack Obama “to step in and end” what he calls the “violence” against protesters demonstrating against an oil pipeline being built on part of an Indian reservation in North Dakota. (Photo by Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File)

In an open letter on Facebook posted Monday, the 71-year-old rock star calls the protest at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation “an awakening.” He says demonstrators are “standing strong in the face of outrageous, unnecessary and violent aggression.” He says law enforcement agencies and the National Guard are “seemingly acting to protect the interests of the Dakota Access Pipeline profiteers” with taxpayer money.