By Patrick Howley

Left-wing anti-Keystone pipeline protesters accosted a group of National Guard soldiers at a Buffalo Wild Wings in Rapid City, South Dakota, the National Guard confirms to Big League Politics.

In response, the National Guard has warned its service members not to wear their uniforms in public while they are off duty, as the anti-pipeline protests intensify.

“I can confirm that the incident took place, and that there were National Guard soldiers that were involved,” National Guard lieutenant colonel Anthony Deiss confirms to Big League Politics. More than 80 people protested outside the Rapid City courthouse as the battle over the Keystone pipeline heads to court. The ACLU’s lawsuit against South Dakota governor Kristi Noem over a law seeking criminal penalties for “riot boosting” made its way to court Thursday.

“We’ve made National Guard soldiers and service members aware of the incident and what had happened and to maintain awareness when out in public in uniform, and if they see something out of the ordinary or suspicious to report that through the chain of command,” Deiss stated.

“While off duty is what we recommended,” Deiss said, confirming that the National Guard recommended that its soldiers not wear their uniforms in public while off duty.

“When they are off-duty, we make recommendations on what they should wear, but most service members when they’re off duty usually wear civilian clothes anyway,” Deiss said.

Shad Olson, South Dakota broadcaster and activist, first learned about the incident and wrote the following:

“It was an ugly lunchtime scene at a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant in Rapid City Wednesday as a group of Army National Guard soldiers were accosted, insulted and attacked by members of a large group of militant leftist oil pipeline protesters who have traveled to Rapid City to disrupt federal court proceedings regarding a new law that provides enhanced penalties for pipeline protesting on private property.

Witnesses say that police were called and that the restaurant manager was attempting to forcibly remove members of that protest group after their screaming chants of “Babykiller, Babykiller,” and profanity against the soldiers disrupted an otherwise peaceful meal for customers. As she was leaving, one woman set off a smoke device that triggered fire alarms and caused an evacuation of the restaurant.