Donald Trump should stay away from Mount Rushmore, Sioux leader says

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian

The president’s planned visit to the monument on ‘stolen’ Native land risks spreading coronavirus, tribal president warns

Edward Helmore

Wed 1 Jul 2020 04.00 EDT

Donald Trump should not carry out his planned 3 July visit to the Mount Rushmore monument in South Dakota because it represents a safety risk in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic and is an insult to Native Americans on whose stolen land it was built, the president of the Oglala Sioux tribal council has said.

Several Native American groups are planning protests for Trump’s controversial trip to the 79-year-old stone monument carved into the Black Hills that is set to include the first fireworks display at the site since 2009 and an air force flypast.

“Trump coming here is a safety concern not just for my people inside and outside the reservation, but for people in the Great Plains. We have such limited resources in Black Hills, and we’re already seeing infections rising,” the Oglala Sioux president, Julian Bear Runner, in an interview with the Guardian.

“It’s going to cause an uproar if he comes here. People are going to want to exercise their first amendment rights to protest and we do not want to see anyone get hurt or the lands be destroyed,” Bear Runner said.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/01/mount-rushmore-donald-trump-sioux

[Cha]

1. TY, Julian Bear Runner!

[oasis]

7. "Pele's Curse" crossed my mind when I read the OP.

[Cha]

8. I can see why it would. What could possibly

go wrong with this propaganda extravaganza in the middle of a Global Pandemic?

[duforsure]

2. This will only make him go there more

And to use his platform to hurt Indians with more. He hates Indians, and has attacked then numerous times with his propaganda he uses to demonize others with. He has past situations where he's gone after them in court also, and claiming he's a victim with his casino businesses he had before he drove them into bankruptcy.

[gordianot]

3. You are correct, the essential 70+ year old Donald Trump is an immature petulant child.

Telling, warning, reasoning with him does not work. Sending him to military school obviously did not work.

[tanyev]

5. I can also see him doing an insulting version of an Indian dance, just for spite.

[2naSalit]

4. But the governor is one of his stepford puppets.

And she is a majorly bigoted maskhole. I hope they close the reservation to nonresidents.

[NCjack]

9. Sen. Thune (R-SD) will be present. He has awful relationship with the Indians.

If the Indians protest during Trump's visit, there is not one SD senior Republican who can calm the crowd and prevent a violent riot. Of course, that is what Trump wants. Perhaps the governor can have the National Guard buzz them with a helicopter. I think you are correct in that the Indians will close all roads into the stolen land.

[roamer65]

6. There should be no quotes around stolen, Guardian.

It is stolen land.

[Lulu KC]

10. +1 n/t

[raging moderate]

13. Very true!

Stolen!

[Bayard]

11. Once again, no respect for others' religion

The Black Hills are sacred to the Sioux. Trump going there is a hideous mockery, especially if he brings his upside down Bible. Not to mention Rushmore was built on Sioux land, and, oh yeah--PANDEMIC!

[oasis]

12. It is wise to heed advice concerning "bad medicine".

[jeffreyi]

14. Fear not, it's probably for sale to the cronies and destroyers

Just like the rest of our irreplaceable public lands