Kristi Noem Rips Biden Over ‘Unlawful Action,’ Says ‘Radical Left’ Doesn’t ‘Want to Celebrate America Or Our Freedoms’ After Judge Denies Fireworks At Mt. Rushmore
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem ripped President Joe Biden today on “Fox & Friends” over his ‘unlawful act’ to cancel a Fourth of July fireworks show at Mount Rushmore before promising to appeal a court ruling that upheld Biden’s decision.
She said: “The Biden Administration cancelled South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration on completely arbitrary grounds. I am disappointed that the court gave cover to this unlawful action with today’s decision.
“The decision was really arbitrary, that’s why we’ll be appealing this decision, and the fight isn’t over. This is part of the radical left’s agenda. They don’t want to celebrate America or our freedoms. They’re pushing critical race theory. They’re pushing the 1619 Project. And this is just another one of those battles to erase our true, honest and patriotic history in this country.
She continued, “To shut it down at this point, saying that there could be COVID concerns, fire concerns, environmental concerns, is just not honest.
“We’ve addressed all their concerns. We had an agreement signed and then the National Park Service decided just not to issue us the permit. That’s why we went to court.
Regarding today’s District Court ruling: The Biden Administration cancelled South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration on completely arbitrary grounds. I am disappointed that the court gave cover to this unlawful action with today’s decision.
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) June 2, 2021
“Rest assured, this fight is not over – I will appeal so that the Fireworks Celebration can return to Mount Rushmore and we will once again celebrate our nation’s birthday at America’s Shrine to Democracy for next year and in the future,” she said.
“It’s all political and punitive, and it’s ridiculous,” Noem said.
“The fact that we have a judge that stood beside this political, arbitrary decision that came out of the Biden White House is unfortunate.”
“But we do not quit. We keep fighting and this country is worth it.”
From The Hill:
A federal judge in South Dakota on Wednesday denied a bid by the state’s Republican Gov. Kristi Noem to hold a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore to celebrate Independence Day after her request for a permit was denied by the Biden administration.
In a 36-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Roberto Lange declined to enter a preliminary judgment in Noem’s favor, finding that her suit against federal officials was unlikely to ultimately prevail.
“This Court fully understands the State’s position and why this suit was brought,” wrote Lange, an Obama nominee. “But under governing law, the State is unlikely to succeed on the merits of its claims and has not met the requirements” for interim legal relief.
Specifically, he determined that the denial was not “arbitrary and capricious” as the state contended because he said reasons given for the denial were not irrational or particularly implausible.
But rest assured, this fight is not over – I will appeal so that the Fireworks Celebration can return to Mount Rushmore and we will once again celebrate our nation’s birthday at America’s Shrine to Democracy for next year and in the future.
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) June 2, 2021