Mastodon recently released a Thanksgiving-themed t-shirt, pictured above, featuring a white male pilgrim holding a gun to the head of a female Native American. Now, the band has responded on Facebook to accusations of racism with the following message:

Regarding our thanksgiving shirt, whether you choose to believe or not, the American Indians were massacred by the white settlers who became the Americans we are today. this shirt represents this atrocity and celebrating in the face of this atrocity is chilling.

We may have a sick sense of humor, but we are far from being “Racist” as some of you who might not get it are calling us.

(via P4k)