DemandsClose Mount Rushmore as a monument

Black Hills Legal Defense Fund

On July 3rd, 2020 Indigenous People and our allies were arrested in the process of defending our sacred lands in the Black Hills. Acts of courage and civil disobedience resulted in arrests and criminal charges. We were protesting the desecration of sacred lands that were stolen from our people.

Fiscally sponsored by

NDN Collective
About

About the fund

On July 3rd, 2020 Indigenous People and our allies were arrested in the process of defending our sacred lands in the Black Hills. Acts of courage and civil disobedience resulted in arrests and criminal charges. We were protesting the desecration of sacred lands that were stolen from our people. Mt. Rushmore was stolen from the Lakota people in our treaties and human rights violated. This stolen land was taken from us and then the faces of four former US Presidents were carved into the mountain. These US presidents were colonizers that committed acts of genocide against Indigenous and BIPOC people throughout Turtle Island. Mt. Rushmore was carved by Borglum, a member of the Klu Kluxx Klan. As it stands today Mt. Rushmore is a national symbol of White Supremacy and systematic racism. As a group of Indigenous people and our allies we made a stand against Donald Trump the President of the United States who made a decision to come to Oceti Sakowin Territory without the free prior and informed consent of the Tribal Nations of the region. The President was attempting a comeback tour of rural America and he wanted to put on a show of fireworks at Mt. Rushmore as part of the Fourth of July.

At a time of social and racial reckoning in this country Trump has perpetuated a White Supremacist narrative that has further divided the country. As a group of Indigenous People and our allies we are committed to the dismantling of White Supremacy and systemic racism in this country.

Defending the Black Hills

Our Demands

Close Mount Rushmore as a National Monument

Return the land back to the Lakota people whose land it is for them to decide what to do with it moving forward

End White Supremacy and systemic racism

Shift decision making power back into the hands of BIPOC people

Stop the Trump regime from continuing to tear apart this nation

Return the Black Hills back to the Lakota and Indigenous people of the region

Due care and support

How the funds will be used

Duty of care support for people arrested

Ongoing legal support for those facing criminal charges for those arrested on July 3rd and 4th

Potential Civil Litigation for Acts of Police Brutality and excessive force for those arrested on July 3rd and 4th

Travel funds and resources for people arrested to attend hearings and trials related to their arrest

If there are any left over resources after all the charges and civil litigation these resources will remain to be used for legal matters in the protection, and liberation of the Black Hills from White Settler Colonial Control