Elevate Rapid City joins the leadership of our community in denouncing the disgusting, reprehensible, and racist comments put on social media yesterday by representatives of the Grand Gateway Hotel. The comments of a group of individuals absolutely do not reflect the values or people of the place we know Rapid City can be. Our Native American brothers and sisters are our neighbors, friends, family, entrepreneurs, and business owners.

This isn’t just about treating people with respect and dignity, which should, by itself, be enough. Our economy will never be as vibrant as it could truly be without us welcoming our Native populations to our business community as true equals. We will continue to work to a future where all of us, people from all backgrounds, races, colors, and creeds, can realize a more just and equitable society.