Wherever Donald Trump goes, chaos follows. Despite an uptick in COVID-19 cases that is quickly creating a second round of a crisis, Trump is holding a vanity rally at Mt. Rushmore for July 4th with no rules regarding social distancing or masks.
— Erin Bormett (@EEBormett) July 3, 2020
Many raised concerns about the spread of COVID-19, with the political divide as evident as the masks on protesters faces. South Dakota’s Governor Noem has suffered some of the criticism, despite Trump’s dismissive attitude about the virus, saying it will just “disappear.”
According to The Hill, Governor Noem said during a Fox News interview that:
‘We will have a large event on July 3. We told those folks that have concerns that they can stay home, but those who want to come and join us, we’ll be giving out free face masks, if they choose to wear one. But we won’t be social distancing. We’re asking them to come — be ready to celebrate, to enjoy the freedoms and the liberties that we have in this country.’
The reason they zip tied seats together is so Trump can get his live shot of a Mount Rushmore crowd close together, in open defiance of what every expert has told us to do.
He's selling a narrative to fuel his base that will cost more Americans their lives just to feed his ego. pic.twitter.com/8hrJHltHgY
— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) July 4, 2020
Attendees will also sit in chairs zip-tied together so that Trump can have the appearance of a packed crowd, fearful of a badly-attended event like his Tulsa rally. This is despite CDC guidelines regarding social distancing. Trump’s ego will very likely get more people sick.
‘Trump Rushmore speech will slam “left wing mob” trying to tear down “our history,” campaign official briefed tells @ABC
‘News POTUS will argue “left wing mob” and “cancel culture” are pushing “totalitarian behavior…completely alien to American life,” source said (not excerpts).’
Trump Rushmore speech will slam “left wing mob” trying to tear down “our history," campaign official briefed tells @ABC News
POTUS will argue "left wing mob" and "cancel culture" are pushing "totalitarian behavior…completely alien to American life," source said (not excerpts)
— Will Steakin (@wsteaks) July 3, 2020
Protesters from indigenous communities carried signs saying “get off our land,” having raised concerns – unheard concerns, of course – about the potential for fireworks to start wildfires and contaminate their drinking water.
The Washington Post reports that:
‘The mostly Native American demonstrators, protesting the taking of land from the Lakota people, gathered hours before Air Force One arrived in the state. They chanted, held signs and sang songs as members of the National Guard and local authorities dispersed the crowd using pepper spray, according to the Associated Press. Police also towed three vans that blocked the road.’
Wow. Indigenous protesters have blocked the road to Trump event tonight at Mount Rushmore (a sacred Lakota site in the Black Hills)
🎥: @UR_Ninja
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) July 3, 2020
Featured image screenshot via Twitter
