A former Michigan University men’s basketball player’s crusade to change Mount Rushmore’s name bounced off an unmovable governor.
ESPN analyst and former basketball player Jalen Rose wants people to stop using the term Mount Rushmore because he said it is offensive. He likens it to teams changing their names from Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians because of the offense claimed by members of some American Indian tribes.
“I want to continue to challenge myself and challenge you to do something,” Rose said in a video posted to his Twitter account. “Can we retire using ‘Mount Rushmore?’ That should be offensive to all of us, especially Native Americans, Indigenous people who were the first people here before Christopher Columbus.”
“That land was stolen from them when it was discovered that it contained gold.”
“And 25 years later, to add insult to injury, four American presidents were put on what we call Mount Rushmore on the top of the dead bodies that is buried right underneath,” he added. “So, I call for you and for myself — I’m owning this, too — let’s stop using the term ‘Mount Rushmore’ when we’re talking about our favorite rappers, talking about our favorite movies, talking about our favorite players.”
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, was not having it.
“The four men on Mount Rushmore were amazing, flawed American leaders who helped make America what it is today,” Noem declared in a post to Twitter, “the greatest country the world has ever known.”
“To the woke leftists obsessed with attacking these leaders, I’ve got news for you: not on my watch.”
The Denver Nuggets drafted Rose in the first round of the National Basketball Association’s 1994 draft. His high pick placement followed a stellar career with the University of Michigan’s men’s basketball team. He was a member of the storied “Fab Five” that played in consecutive championship games in the NCAA March Madness tournament.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.
