Protesters have reportedly blocked the main road leading to Friday night’s Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore with disabled vehicles, lining up vans and standing in the road holding signs reading, “You Are On Stolen Land” and “Sacred Sites Over National Monuments. Give It Back.”
Photos and videos show demonstrators blocking the road, Highway 16A, with vans, some of which had flattened — and physically removed — tires:
BREAKING: Protestors using vans to block entrance to Mt. Rushmore event. Removing tires creating physical barrier to event. pic.twitter.com/og0DND5FHH
— Jordan Parker (@jordanparker_) July 3, 2020
Protesters have blocked the highway with vans pic.twitter.com/8mt39n3aNN
— Erin Bormett (@EEBormett) July 3, 2020
Police have just announced the gathering is an unlawful assembly.
we are #live in South Dakotahttps://t.co/hxXN24csB1— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) July 3, 2020
"OUR LAND. OUR HOME."#Indigenous demonstrators repeat this call, saying Trump supporters are the unlawful assembly. Troopers continuing to face off with the blockade.
A Trump supporter tried to break through the blockade a few minutes past#live in SDhttps://t.co/TYNWt7NeOz
— Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) July 3, 2020
According to the Argus Leader, authorities declared the protest an unlawful assembly around 4:30 p.m. MT:
It has officially been declared an unlawful assembly by law enforcement over a megaphone. The are demanding to vacate the premises immediately or the protestors will be arrested
— Erin Bormett (@EEBormett) July 3, 2020
“Police are demanding protesters vacate the premises or they will be arrested. At 5:15 p.m. MT, at least one person had been arrested, but the road was still blocked,” the newspaper reported.
The National Guard is reportedly on the scene:
The National Guard is here pic.twitter.com/dAUjyOf4m9
— Erin Bormett (@EEBormett) July 3, 2020
— Erin Bormett (@EEBormett) July 3, 2020
— Erin Bormett (@EEBormett) July 3, 2020
A warning from police: pic.twitter.com/peK1S6hLiu
— Erin Bormett (@EEBormett) July 3, 2020
Armed police have engaged with protestors. pic.twitter.com/mToUIkcpZb
— Jordan Parker (@jordanparker_) July 3, 2020
Story cited here.