Hundreds gather at Phoenix rally in support of Standing Rock protesters

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered at Phoenix's Steele Indian School Park to show their support for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, in the ongoing controversy over the Dakota Access Pipeline, or DAPL.

After months of heated protests in North Dakota over DAPL, many other cities around the country are seeing support rallies in opposition to the project

"There is the whole stigma behind it, and that's not the way that it should be," said one of the protester, who goes by the name "Krystal".

Krystal said if DAPL is completed, and something goes wrong with the pipeline which contaminates groundwater, it could impact many.

Krystal also said she believes coverage of the protests have been low, because it is thought of as an indigenous issue.

Meanwhile, another protester, who goes by the name "Ashley", said her and her friends couldn't bear to watch what was happening at Standing Rock and not do anything about it.

"Oh my gosh, it's just unspeakable what's going on. I just came out here to show support and yeah, water is life!"

Now as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced they will be closing the land that has served as a pivotal point for protestors on December 5, some say they want their voices heard with no more violent clashes.

The decision to close the area north of Cannonball River -- coming on the heels of a nasty clash between protestors and law enforcement -- in which officers deployed tear gas, water hoses, and rubber bullets... 300 people were injured, 26 were hospitalized.