{"id":12124,"date":"2022-04-20T20:43:53","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T20:43:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ndncollective.org\/?p=12124"},"modified":"2024-05-15T02:44:49","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T02:44:49","slug":"ndn-collective-calls-for-boycott-of-rapid-city-businesses-with-racist-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndncollective.org\/ndn-collective-calls-for-boycott-of-rapid-city-businesses-with-racist-policies\/","title":{"rendered":"NDN Collective Calls for Boycott of Rapid City Businesses with Racist Policies","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

For Immediate Release: April 20, 2022<\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Rapid City, SD — <\/strong>Today, NDN Collective<\/a> held an action at The Foothills Inn to kick off a boycott of all properties owned by the Uhre family.\u00a0 Over 100 community members showed up to support the action and stand in solidarity against local area businesses exhibiting racist policies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

NDN Collective\u2019s call for a boycott was sparked by the fact that, despite the Grand Gateway Hotel being currently closed \u2013 allegedly for spring cleaning \u2013 after Connie and Nick Uhre\u2019s calls for a ban on Natives<\/a> at the property, the family is still profiting from their other businesses: The Foothills Inn and Uhre Realty, also located in the Rapid City area.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Native people and allies walk along the sidewalk in front of the Grand Gateway Hotel on Day 1 of the boycott against racism in Rapid City, SD. Photo by Willi White for NDN Collective.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

NDN Collective\u2019s goal for the ongoing boycott is to discourage community members from supporting businesses with racist policies & practices, and instead encourage them to use buying power to impact change by redirecting their dollars to businesses that stand in solidarity with Indigenous people.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cThis is bigger than just forcing the Uhre family out of business for their racist policies \u2013 it\u2019s about addressing systemic racism in our community at all levels by holding people accountable,\u201d said Sunny Red Bear, racial equity director at NDN Collective. <\/strong>\u201cWe want the Rapid City community to realize that their dollars translate into power \u2013 which is why we\u2019re asking our neighbors to support us by refusing to spend money at establishments that have expressed hateful and racist sentiments towards Indigenous people.”\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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An Indigenous woman holds a sign for the boycott against racism in Rapid City, SD. Photo by Willi White for NDN Collective.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\u201cIt\u2019s beyond time for Rapid City to uncover and address the insidious racism that Indigenous people here are forced to navigate every single day. We are a vital part of this community and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

On March 26, directly after Connie Uhres publicly said she would ban Natives from the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Lounge and after NDN Collective staff members were refused rooms on two different occasions, the organization filed a federal civil rights class action lawsuit<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Contact: <\/strong>Cabot Petoia, clpetoia@gmail.com<\/a>, 828-899-9239<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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NDN Collective will continue to report on the boycott as it evolves.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Watch part 1 of the boycott livestream<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=HZUczHdOLfo<\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Watch part 2 of the boycott livestream<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=wF6vqoPHnhk<\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Watch the Rapid City vs. Racism live discussion<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=u5OzBBmF-i4<\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n