On a fourth of July event At Mount Rushmore on Friday night, President Donald Trump criticized multiple Neil Young songs for the crowd Soon after, the legendary singer reiterated that “IT’S NOT WELL” with the president using his music.
“This is NOT okay with me …” Young tweeted.
“I stand in solidarity with the Lakota Sioux and this is NOT okay with me,” he added.
The President performed “Rockin ‘in the Free World” and “Like a Hurricane” before his arrival at the controversial event.
The Lakota Sioux protested the event in South Dakota, which was held on sacred ground from which they were once forced to violently abandon. They barricaded the road leading to Mount Rushmore, holding signs that read “Protect SoDak’s First People,” “You’re on Stolen Land,” and “Dismantle White Supremacy,” reports The Associated Press.
The event also raised concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, as several states have seen an increase in cases in recent weeks. Several tribes in the region expressed concern about the event that led to an outbreak of the virus, as Native American communities have been particularly devastated by COVID-19.
“The president is putting our tribal members at risk by organizing a photo shoot at one of our most sacred sites,” Harold Frazier, president of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe, told AP.
Young has condemned Trump’s use of his music in past protests. Earlier this year, he wrote an open letter criticizing the president and expressing support for the former Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders.
In the letter, the Canadian rocker, who became a US citizen in January, wrote that “Keep on Rockin ‘in the Free World” is not “a song you can get out of one of your rallies.”
“Every time ‘Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World ‘or one of my songs is played at their rallies, I hope they hear my voice,” Young wrote. “Remember, it’s the voice of a tax-paying American citizen who doesn’t support you.”
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