Retail giant Target has come under fire after it was revealed that the company donated funds to a nonprofit organization that has called for the closure of Mount Rushmore, labeling it as an “international symbol of white supremacy.”
According to a report from Fox News, Target donated money to the NDN Collective in 2022. The nonprofit, which is based in South Dakota, has stated that the closure of Mount Rushmore and the return of all public lands in the Black Hills of South Dakota is their “cornerstone battle.”
In a statement, NDN Collective said, “Not only does Mount Rushmore sit in the heart of the sacred Black Hills, but it is an international symbol of White Supremacy and colonization. To truly dismantle white supremacy and systems of oppression, we have to go back to the roots. Which, for us, is putting Indigenous Lands back in Indigenous hands.”
NDN Collective’s president and CEO, Nick Tilsen, further emphasized this point by stating 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.”
The nonprofit has also been criticized for its “LANDBACK” campaign, which includes the slogan, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free,” a phrase commonly used by organizations that are hostile towards Israel.
In addition, NDN Collective has been accused of making sweeping and unfounded statements about the U.S. military and police, stating that they are “in the explicit business of taking land away from communities all around the world” and that “violence is fundamental for the U.S. to maintain its presence.”
The controversy has sparked debate about the role of corporations in funding nonprofit organizations with controversial political agendas. While some argue that companies should avoid donating to groups with divisive or extreme views, others believe that such donations are a form of free speech and should be protected. Target has not yet issued a response to the criticism.
