As the coronavirus pandemic alters the celebration of Independence Day in the United States, stripping Americans of the opportunity to have a beer and a BBQ with their peers in the park, there will still be an event at Mount Rushmore, as US President Donald Trump arrives for a rally.
Trump is to deliver a congratulatory speech, expected to be followed by a fireworks show above the iconic US monument. South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem noted that there will be no social distancing guidelines, and about 7,000 tickets were reportedly secured for the event.
Trump AF-1 flyover at Mt. Rushmore pic.twitter.com/oikZHmXfZm
— joe johns (@joejohnscnn) July 4, 2020
Hours before the 4th of July event, anti-Trump protesters briefly blocked the road to the monument, using vans with removed tires. The block is seen as potentially difficult to remove.
Indigenous protesters at Mount Rushmore (sacred Lakota land) have removed the tires from the large white vans in the background, creating a road block that will be very difficult to move.
— Joshua Potash (@JoshuaPotash) July 3, 2020
🎥: @EEBormett
pic.twitter.com/o5Qc5Fgrn0
As protesters gathered around the roadblock, climbed the vans and waved flags, the National Guard, along with police arrived on scene to disperse the crowd. The blockade created by the demonstrators was later towed down the mountain.
#BREAKING: National guard is working to disperse protesters who have formed a blockade leading to Mount Rushmore where President Trump will deliver a 4th of July speech. pic.twitter.com/XeZaTdLwka
— Jennifer Franco (@jennfranconews) July 3, 2020
Protesters Bus’s being towed down the mountain. #MtRushmore #Protesters pic.twitter.com/MaGRlOgQ44
— Kotcha The Great 🇺🇸 (@KotchaTheGreat) July 4, 2020
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