Items

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  2020-08-21

  I Stood Up for Indigenous Rights at Mount Rushmore. Now I'm Facing 17 Years

  On July 4th 2020, United States President Donald Trump held a controversial political rally at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. The rally was controversial for a number of reasons, the first being that during the height of the covid-19 pandemic – social distancing and mask-wearing policies were not enforced during the rally. The political rally was also held on sacred Indigenous land and what was once part of the Lakota Sioux territory. To many Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike, this action felt like a slap in the face to Indigenous communicates who are facing disproportionate affects from the covid-19 pandemic. This opinion piece is written by Oglala Lakota citizen, and president and CEO of the NDN Collective, Nick Tilsen who is facing felony charges and up-to-17 years in prison for exercising his first amendment right to protest on the day of the rally.
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  2020-07-04

  Native Americans protest Trump’s Mt. Rushmore rally

  The pandemic has amplified existing societal and systemic injustices and racism in the United States. In 2020, fighting for social justice has been just as important as looking for a covid-19 vaccine. President Trump has inflamed flashpoints among his base, mostly white conservative voters, and Black and Indigenous People of Color. As an example, Trump held a 4th of July rally on sacred Sioux land at Mt. Rushmore, which seemed like an intentional act to show that Indigenous peoples hold no power or sovereignty there. This interview was conduced by PBS with Chase Iron Eyes, who is Special Advisor to the president of the Ogala Sioux Tribe.
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  2020-07-04

  4th of July Weekend Sparks Further Protests

  As the 4th of July weekend commenced, different sections of the country were split: quarantine, masks, and social distancing for a fairly quiet holiday or continue on with business as usual. In the tweet, we are invited to view what a 4th of July celebration looked like at Mount Rushmore. There were masks amongst protestors, amongst some attendees, and very few from the President's personal entourage. This item was added TAGS v6.1.9.1. I originally searched under the hashtag #rushmore. Within that search, I have chosen to add the following tweet because it touches on the intersection of politics, health, and public protest. Buzzfeed News Article: (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/katebubacz/trumps-visit-to-mount-rushmore-photos)