Target has donated money to a group that wants to close down Mount Rushmore and "return the land and all public lands in the Black Hills of South Dakota," Fox News reported.
The group, NDN Collective, has stated that "Mount Rushmore is an international symbol of white supremacy, and as people across America rightfully pull down statues of white supremacy, we have to look long and hard at how this national monument in the Black Hills upholds and maintains white supremacy on Indigenous lands."
Target, in a statement to Fox News, said, "We are aware of the conversations regarding the difficult histories associated with Mount Rushmore and believe strongly that meaningful, respectful dialogue is necessary for positive change in our communities and country."
The group is also calling for the closure of the U.S. military and police and also for the return of Indigenous lands to their rightful owners. They state that, "The origin of the U.S. military and police is rooted in the establishment of informal militias composed of newly arrived settlers looking to make money and own land," adding that, "The purpose of these informal militias, however, was not to keep the police or protect citizens, but to clear the land of as many Natives as possible by killing indiscriminately, and catching runaway enslaved Africans."
The group also claims that "Violence is fundamental for the U.S. to maintain its presence, and the military is how they establish dominance domestically and internationally, wherever they may be."
Fox News reached out to the National Park Service for comment, but they declined to provide any information.
Mount Rushmore has been a symbol of America since the 1930s and is an internationally-recognized destination for tourists and locals alike. But with this recent donation to the NDN Collective, some are wondering if this could be a sign of changing times and if the iconic monument may eventually be closed down.
Only time will tell how this situation will play out, but it's clear that Target is in support of the closure of Mount Rushmore and the return of Indigenous lands. As Target and the NDN Collective continue to push for their agenda, it’s likely that more eyes will be on the monument in the months and years to come.