We're being asked our thoughts about the patriotic extravaganza Friday evening, covered in the Star Tribune by Stephen Groves of the Associated Press in Trump's Rushmore trip draws real and figurative fireworks:
President Donald Trump will begin his Independence Day weekend on Friday with a patriotic display of fireworks at Mount Rushmore, an event expected to draw thousands where masks and social distancing aren't required as coronavirus cases spike across the country.
Trump is expected to speak at the event, which has issued 7,500 tickets to watch fireworks that he says will be a "display like few people have seen."
The president will likely enjoy a show of support, with the state Republican Party selling T-shirts that feature Trump on the memorial alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. But concern about the coronavirus risk and wildfire danger from the fireworks, along with protests from Native American groups, will also greet the president. . . .
Read the rest at the Strib.
Readers have brought several news items to our attention, and we'll consider them in the order laid out by Groves, "concern about the coronavirus risk and wildfire danger from the fireworks, along with protests from Native American groups," hoping to supplement his coverage.
Coronavirus risk
At SDPB Radio, Jackie Hendry reports in Department of Health Encourages Responsibility Ahead of Mt. Rushmore Event:
The South Dakota Department of Health will not encourage people who attend this weekend’s fireworks show at Mt. Rushmore to get a COVID-19 test afterward. Instead, health officials say people should to take measures on their own to prevent spreading the virus.
Around 7,500 people have tickets to Friday’s fireworks display, which President Donald Trump plans to attend. Masks are not required, and Governor Kristi Noem says they will not enforce any social distancing measures.
State epidemiologist Josh Clayton says the Department of Health provided input ahead of the event. He says it’s still important to wash hands, wear a mask, and stay as physically distant as possible to prevent spreading coronavirus.
“What I would say is the guidance has not changed in that respect. Individuals do need to take precautions into their own hands when they are out—whether it be grocery shopping, going out to other events such as picnics and fireworks celebrations, including the fireworks celebration at Mt. Rushmore.”
Dr. Clayton says self-isolating and testing for COVID-19 is typically recommended for people who know they’ve been exposed to the virus.
“Just because there are going to be individuals that are going to be in close proximity, that doesn’t equate to an exposure event in and of itself," he explains. "But again, coming back to that core messaging of individuals taking precautions that would decrease any potential transmission.”
Governor Noem told Fox News earlier this week that people who are concerned about the large gathering can stay home. She says free face masks will be available at the monument for those who want them.
Earlier this week, Lisa Kaczke reported in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader story, South Dakota health experts warn Mount Rushmore fireworks could cause coronavirus spike:
Health experts are concerned a crowd of 7,500 gathering without social distancing and masks at the Mount Rushmore fireworks display could cause a spike in coronavirus cases following the event.
The July 3 fireworks, which President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend, will be the first at Mount Rushmore National Monument in a decade and comes three months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Health professionals in South Dakota are concerned the lack of mitigation efforts expected at the event could cause the coronavirus to spread in the communities surrounding Mount Rushmore and in communities where attendees live following the event.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has four levels of coronavirus risk for events and the Mount Rushmore fireworks falls into the highest risk category: a large in-person gathering where it'll be hard for attendees to remain 6 feet apart and attendees have traveled from outside the local area.
The South Dakota State Medical Association has concerns that proper social distancing and safety precautions won't be maintained during the event and it questions whether attendees will be able to social distance at the event given its magnitude and location, said the association's President Dr. Ben Aaker, an emergency medicine physician in Yankton. . . .
Well then.
Wildfire danger and public dollars
At Wildfire Today, editor Bill Gabbert reported on April 29 in Park Service conducts prescribed fire at Mount Rushmore:
Mount Rushmore National Memorial conducted a prescribed fire Wednesday. The plan conceived weeks ago, according to what one of the firefighters told photographer Paul Horsted, was to burn 260 acres in preparation for exploding fireworks over the sculpture on July 3. Yesterday the National Park Service released the results of the Environmental Assessment which found there would be “no significant impact” from the fireworks that were announced by President Trump May 7, 2019.
In revealing the prescribed fire today the NPS said in a statement, “The burn objective is to reduce the build-up of dead fuels, in order to reduce the chance of higher severity fires.” . . .
The source--a local naturalist in Northeast South Dakota--who sent us looking at this issue told Bluestem Prairie that the prescribed burn cost the State of South Dakota $30,000. On May 6, Wildfire Today reported in Estimated cost for prescribed fire at Mount Rushmore fireworks site was $30,000:
The exact price tag for last week’s prescribed fire has not been tabulated, but Maureen McGee-Ballinger, the Memorial’s Chief of Interpretation and Education, told us the estimated expenditure was $30,000. It was conducted by a total of 54 personnel, including 24 firefighters from the National Park Service, 8 from the State of South Dakota, 6 from the State of North Dakota, 8 from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, 4 from the Department of Defense and 2 local volunteer fire department engines.
This was the first broadcast burn ever conducted at the Memorial. One of the objectives in the Incident Action Plan for the project was to “reduce the likelihood of unwanted ignitions in this area.”
But that's not the only cost to taxpayers for this Trump campaign ad. SDPB's Seth Tupper reports in From Infrastructure To Fireworks: Mickelson, Noem And The Future Fund:
When I discovered (and reported) this week that Gov. Kristi Noem is using the Future Fund to pay for Friday's fireworks display at Mount Rushmore, I wanted to learn more about the purpose of the fund.
I eventually stumbled upon a 2005 issue memorandum by the Legislative Research Council. The memorandum quoted from the late Gov. George Mickelson’s 1987 State of the State Address, in which he proposed the creation of the fund.
The memorandum said the fund was part of Mickelson’s vision for economic development in South Dakota.
Here's an excerpt from that memorandum, where it explains Mickelson's idea for the Future Fund:
"It was to be 'an investment in South Dakota’s future … for long-term investments ... for building the infrastructure [emphasis added].'
"Mickelson emphasized the political risks of, but also the need for, long-term investments. 'Often politicians are attracted to short-term programs so that by the next election they might be able to point back and look at benefits or look at results. The courageous politicians are people who are willing to look at the long-term and make a long-term investment in what we believe is right.'"
I wondered if we at SDPB had video or audio of that 1987 speech. Luckily for me, our own Brad Van Osdel found it.
Go over to SDPB and watch the video.
Check out Dakota Free Press's reaction, Noem Casts Trump Visit as Economic Development, Lights Fireworks with $350K from Future Fund.
Mickelson, who died in a plane crash while serving, was a visionary Republican leader. Indeed, his leadership converted South Dakota to the state in which it's Native Americans' Day, not Columbus Day. Since 1990.
Protests from Native American groups
Objections to Mount Rushmore from the Oceti Sakowin are nothing new. Groves explains:
Some Native American groups are using Trump's visit to protest the Mount Rushmore memorial itself, pointing out that the Black Hills were taken from the Lakota people against treaty agreements.
Protests are expected in Keystone, the small town near the monument. Chase Iron Eyes, a spokesman for the Oglala Sioux president, said protesters would like to make their voice heard at the memorial itself, but it's not clear they'll be able to get close.
There's more in our Twitter feed from native writers and activists:
Our rights to the Black Hills were written into law by a treaty between the US & Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation). The Senate ratified the treaty enshrining it as the law of the land equivalent to the Constitution. The Black Hills do not belong to Trump. https://t.co/XbmQwjsMOu
— Ruth Hopkins ⚡️❤️⚡️ (@Ruth_HHopkins) July 3, 2020
As Donald Trump makes his way to #StolenLand for #July4th, NDN Collective calls for the closure of Mount Rushmore and for the sacred Paha Sapa (Black Hills) to be returned to the Sioux Nation. @ndncollective @CRSTChairman #LandBack #HonorTheTreaties https://t.co/95WrpMEOui
— indianz.com (@indianz) July 3, 2020
“In the midst of a national reckoning on race, the hypocrisy of Mount Rushmore must be interrogated and denounced. The so-called Shrine of Democracy is carved into stolen land that even our Constitution holds to be illegally occupied.”@ndncollectivehttps://t.co/7Avazm6VDf
— Rebecca Nagle (@rebeccanagle) July 3, 2020
We deeply appreciate your solidarity.@govkristinoem is merely pushing #trump propaganda re: #COVID19, and in doing so, is putting countless people at risk with her decision to encourage *NO* social distancing or use of PPE. This is extremely poor and irresponsible leadership. https://t.co/qBLKCyc75n
— NDN Collective (@ndncollective) July 3, 2020
We said what we said ✊🏾#LandBack #DefendDevelopDecolonize pic.twitter.com/vp3BqlczDp
— NDN Collective (@ndncollective) July 3, 2020
And this interview from Thursday:
Interview with Nick Tilsen of @ndncollective about what the Black Hills and Mt Rushmore mean to the Lakota. Via @democracynow https://t.co/5AtWuxC7G4
— Rebecca Nagle (@rebeccanagle) July 2, 2020
We'll be spending a quiet evening catching up with the Minnesota legislature's activity this past week, rather than trekking out to the Black Hills.
Related posts:
- SWO Enemy Swim district leader: checkpoint worked to curb COVID-19 in tribal housing
- Death. We're on it: SD Gov. Noem wants to open tribal checkpoints, shut down sovereignty
- Statement: Dakota Rural Action stands with tribes, defending public health, tribal sovereignty
- SD Gov Noem blames Soros' money for pipeline protests; cuts tribes out of anti-protest bills talk
Meme: From twitter.
If you appreciate our posts and original analysis, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. Those wishing to make a small ongoing monthly contribution should click on the paypal subscription button.
Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.
Comments