Rushmore to Re-Open, Protests Continue

KEYSTONE, S.D. (AP) — Mount Rushmore National Memorial is reopening, but some people aren't happy about the lack of federal support for the memorial in western South Dakota's Black Hills.

National parks have been closed because of the partial government shutdown. South Dakota and several corporate donors worked out a deal with the National Park Service to reopen Mount Rushmore beginning Monday.

Demonstrators took to the streets of Keystone on Sunday to show their disapproval of the lack of federal assistance. They traveled from the town to Mount Rushmore in cars and on horseback.

Organizer Jeff Johnson says people are happy the monument is reopening but not very pleased about how that came about.