At Mount Rushmore, which is sacred Lakota land, indigenous protesters parked white vans in the road & removed the tires to create a roadblock.
The National Guard has been called in. They've been told they'll be arrested if they don't move.
🎥 @EEBormett
The National Guard has been called in. They've been told they'll be arrested if they don't move.
🎥 @EEBormett
The police officer to press at Mt. Rushmore: "Little heads up right now, you might want to back down the hill. You're not going to like the effects coming. It's not going to be a pleasant smell ... You can stay here, but it's going to be very irritating."
This is gearing up to be ugly. Power to these protesters for standing down Trump, white supremacy, and police brutality. They embody the spirit of what Independence Day is supposed to be about.
Police and military officers have begun donning gas masks in preparation for dispersing the protesters at Mount Rushmore.
"All over the world, watching you!" protesters at Mount Rushmore shout as officers fire small canisters that appear to elicit coughs.
POWER TO THE PROTESTERS IN MOUNT RUSHMORE
The National Guard in Mount Rushmore is lined up like an invading force.
Wtf? Is the National Guard trying to box the protesters in? Wouldn't them going up the hill be what they want? Can anybody give an explanation for this that isn't simply that they intend to punish protesters?
.@EEBormett updates to say phone might die and that @Ajzionts has livestream going
Nothing like police in camo & riot gear to remind you of the police-industrial complex.
huh
Some background to read while you take all this in:
Here come the tow trucks...
.@UR_Ninja is also on the tip, live link here: pscp.tv/w/1BRKjYOAEMpxw
Protester to US Parks Service & National Guard: "Stand down … Let’s have a real negotiation ... We're reasonable, we're parents, we're pillars of this community. We'll have a negotiation—we're prepared to be here all night if we need to." 
Wow. This man is incredible—he's negotiating with the Parks Service about the tactics the National Guard will use & giving the protesters time to get young people and elders off the road before law enforcement & the military take action.
Via @UR_Ninja: pscp.tv/w/1BRKjYOAEMpxw
Via @UR_Ninja: pscp.tv/w/1BRKjYOAEMpxw
I am filled with so much dread and so much admiration for what's happening at Mount Rushmore. Nobody should be trespassing on these lands.
The leader of the protest is telling the protesters now that they have about 25 minutes to get out before police/military take action and arrests begin.
"We're not dispersing, we're protecting our people. Sometimes we make decisions right in the moment—so each and every one...
"We're not dispersing, we're protecting our people. Sometimes we make decisions right in the moment—so each and every one...
"...of you has something to think about. It doesn't make you any less of a warrior if you leave, it doesn't make you any more of a warrior if you stay, because we're all warriors ... The decision is before us."
"If you get arrested, we got you. We made arrangements to take care of our people. If you don't have any warrants, you're likely to do a book-and-release. If you have prior warrants, you probably won't be released until Monday. So I'm going to give you a number ... once you...
...get arrested, use this number. If you're getting arrested, come on over and see [redacted name]."
"Today has been a proud day to be Lakota. We shut down Mount Rushmore. We put this place on lockdown for 3 hours, and we did it in a good way."
"Today has been a proud day to be Lakota. We shut down Mount Rushmore. We put this place on lockdown for 3 hours, and we did it in a good way."
Be sure to tune into @UR_Ninja livestream here: pscp.tv/w/1BRKjYOAEMpxw
PLEASE SHARE WIDELY:
The Black Hills Legal Defense Fund is collecting donations for bail for protesters at Mount Rushmore today.
Website here: bhlegalfund.org
The Black Hills Legal Defense Fund is collecting donations for bail for protesters at Mount Rushmore today.
Website here: bhlegalfund.org
NOTE: the website is also broken for me, but this is what the organizer has repeatedly said is the website. Not sure what the issue is but will put whatever new information I have.
Mount Rushmore protesters who are staying to hold the ground have been summoned to the middle of the road.
There are about 20 protesters remaining in the center according to @EEBormett to hold the ground leading to Mount Rushmore.
According to @UR_Ninja the Trump/Pence event will be delayed by at least 2 hours because of the Mount Rushmore protest.
"This is unceded territory, and folks are trying to highlight that. This land is not owned by the US government. The government has continuously broken that treaty, but it's still on the books, it's still a treaty." —@UR_ninja
Everyone at the Mount Rushmore has just been told they have 2 minutes until they get arrested—no specification for if it's just protesters or includes bystanders/media.
Arrests have begun at Mount Rushmore to cries of "You stole this land! You stole this land!"
Protester tells police officer that it's "amazing" that he's not wearing a mask and the officer sarcastically fires back, "I'm immune."
Arresting and removing Indigenous folks from unceded territory like this is such a bad look.
"People are being loaded into the white transport van." —@UR_ninja
Oh turns out the person who asked the police about mask-wearing was @EEBormett
Powerful work today from the Lakota people in protest of the US government violating its own treaty. The president’s event tonight is in unceded territory.
Please donate to bhlegalfund.org to help provide bail for those who were arrested if able.
Please donate to bhlegalfund.org to help provide bail for those who were arrested if able.
