Gov. Noem to resubmit request for fireworks at Mount Rushmore
PIERRE, S.D. — Governor Kristi Noem has announced her intent to resubmit a request for Independence Day fireworks.
According to a post on her Twitter account, Gov. Noem is submitting the request partially in response to the Biden Administration’s plans to hold Independence Day fireworks celebrations on the National Mall.
On June 2, a U.S. District Court Judge had ruled against Noem’s lawsuit against the National Park Service to hold Fourth of July fireworks at Mount Rushmore.
Gov. Noem filed the lawsuit against the Interior Department back in April, alleging that the National Park Service gave no reason to deny the permit, calling it “arbitrary and capricious.”
In rejecting the permit, the Regional NPS Director cited COVID-19 concerns, tribal opposition, perchlorates in the water, wildfire concerns, and the on-going construction at the memorial, which would not be complete by July.
Fireworks returned to Mount Rushmore in 2020 for the first time since 2009. The July 3 event was attended by President Donald Trump.
What a hypocrite. President @JoeBiden wants “a summer of freedom” where we “mark independence from the virus by celebrating with events across the country.”
Translation: fireworks are fine at the White House, but not at Mount Rushmore. pic.twitter.com/kHHqkHqlBk
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) June 15, 2021
