Military veterans are building shelters to house protesters at the Standing Rock reservation on Friday to help support the ongoing demonstrations against the multibillion dollar Dakota Access Pipeline project.

More than 200 veterans are also following through with their promise to act as human shields to protect protesters from authorities who have become violent in recent weeks injuring hundreds of activists in the frigid weather.

If the 1,172-mile-long pipeline is completed, it would send 470,000 barrels of crude oil under the Missouri River each day. A leak could contaminate the Sioux community’s drinking water supply.

Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Show all 11 1 /11 Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Veterans have a confrontation with police on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9M REUTERS Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Veterans walk towards the police barricade on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S. December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9D REUTERS Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock A man holds up a traditional drum during a confrontation between veterans and police on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9E REUTERS Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Veterans walk towards the police barricade on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9J REUTERS Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Veterans have a demonstration on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9N REUTERS Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Veterans have a demonstration on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9O REUTERS Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Veterans have a confrontation with police on Backwater bridge during a protest against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith - RTSUA9V REUTERS Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Trek Kelly of Venice Beach, California, stands with veterans who oppose the Dakota Access oil pipeline on Backwater Bridge near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester - RTSUF7J REUTERS Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Korean War veteran George Martin, 80, an Ojibwe tribe from Hopkins, Michigan, stands with veterans who oppose the Dakota Access oil pipeline on Backwater Bridge near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester - RTSUF7U REUTERS Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Korean War veteran George Martin, 80, an Ojibwe tribe from Hopkins, Michigan, stands with veterans who oppose the Dakota Access oil pipeline on Backwater Bridge near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., November 2, 2016. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester - RTSUF8F REUTERS Veterans join protesters at Standing Rock Phyllis Young (C) of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe talks with veterans who oppose the Dakota Access oil pipeline and local law enforcement on Backwater Bridge near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 2, 2016. REUTERS/Terray Sylvester - RTSUF8I REUTERS

Over 2,000 vets have signed up with the Veterans Stand for Standing Rock group on Facebook and more volunteers are expected to join the demonstrations over the weekend.