A new page appeared on Facebook recently called the “Standing Rock Indian Reservation.” The website describes itself as an “unofficial” page located in Cannon Ball, North Dakota.
The feed is full of accounts of people “checking in” to show their support for the pipeline protest in an attempt to “confuse and overwhelm” law enforcement officials by preventing them from geotargeting the DAPL protesters, the Daily Dot reports.
The hoax, or whatever you want to call it, apparently began when a viral message started going around asking people to “check-in at Standing Rock,” along with a message they wanted people to share with their friends and followers. It reads: “The Morton County Sheriff’s Department has been using Facebook check-ins to find out who is at Standing Rock in order to target them in attempts to disrupt the prayer camps. SO Water Protectors are calling on EVERYONE to check-in at Standing Rock, ND to overwhelm and confuse them. This is a concrete action that can protect people putting their bodies and well-beings on the line that we can do without leaving our homes. Will you join me in Standing Rock?”
But according to the Los Angeles Times, the Morton County Sherriff’s Department is denying the story. The Sheriff’s Department Facebook page notes that it “is not and does not follow Facebook check-ins for the protest camp or any location. This claim/rumor is absolutely false.”
Actually, it boils down to this being a great way for people all around the world to show their support for the pipeline protesters. And it appears there are literally thousands and thousands of Facebook users that do believe they are right.