March 23, 2022

City, County, Tribal & Business Entities Condemn Recent Social Media Statements From Local Business Owner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE/March 22, 2022

CITY, COUNTY, TRIBAL & BUSINESS ENTITIES CONDEMN

RECENT SOCIAL MEDIA STATEMENTS

FROM OWNER OF RAPID CITY BUSINESS

We join together in condemning and denouncing the recent social media statements made by representatives of the Grand Gateway Hotel.  The statements are wrong, harmful and hurtful not only to Native Americans but also to Rapid City citizens, businesses and the community at large.  These statements only serve to divide the Rapid City and Native communities and the people who live, work and visit here. 

These hateful, racially-based statements return us to the volatile comments of the 1950s and 1960s, prior to and during the civil rights era.  Such statements pit people and communities against each other, tying race into virtually every community issue and every attempt to address and resolve issues.  The recent comments of a few individuals only fuel the historic trauma experienced by generations of Native Americans.

Much work has been done to build a level of trust, to forge relationships and partnerships, and to address major issues involving Rapid City and our Native American community.  However, such racist and hateful statements as expressed by a few individuals only reinforces long-standing feelings of distrust and threatens the relationship of the Rapid City community with its Native American residents and visitors.  We remain dedicated to working together, to continue building relationships and partnerships and to educate and develop a Rapid City community where people of all backgrounds, races, colors and creeds can feel welcome to live, work and visit here.

We are calling upon the Uhre family to publicly address and denounce their statements and begin making amends to the community, especially the Native American people. 

MAYOR OF RAPID CITY

OGLALA SIOUX TRIBE PRESIDENT

RAPID CITY COUNCIL

PENNINGTON COUNTY COMMISSION

RAPID CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

PENNINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

PENNINGTON COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

PENNINGTON COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION/MNILUZAHAN OKOLAKICIYAPI AMBASSADORS

ELEVATE RAPID CITY

VISIT RAPID CITY

VISIT RAPID CITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

HOTEL BID BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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