Monument Intervention

The monument I have in mind is the California Pioneer monument currently located near the SF Library. A portion of this monument has been the subject of controversy. On four lower pedestals, arranged around the column, like compass points, are life-size and larger figures from California history. One pedestal titled "Early Days," is a triumvirate of Mexican vaquero, Franciscan padre, and submissively seated Indian. Native Americans find this particular pedestal offensive and insulting. As a means of compromise the idea of placing a plaque in front of this pedestal was conceived. The wording of this plaque then became the subject of further controversy. The original wording, which neither side liked was: "The three figures of "Early Days," a Native American, a mission padre, and a vaquero, were created to represent the founding of California's missions. In 1769, the missionaries first came to California with the intent of converting the state's 300,000 Native Americans to Christianity. With their efforts over in 1834, the missionaries left behind about 56,000 converts -- and 150,000 dead. Half of the original Native American population had perished during this time from disease, armed attacks, and mistreatment." Native Americans claimed that this wording downplays the treatment of Native Americans and the real number of deaths. The SF Catholic Archdiocese and Consul General of Spain, home to the Franciscan priests who founded the missions, also objected -- but for different reasons. The Spanish Consul asked the commission "not to be toying around with divisive issues and much less posting them in bronze..." The Chronicle quoted Kelly Cullen, a Franciscan friar who works with the poor, calling the plaque "unnecessarily negative." I think the past and present mistreatment of Native Americans is not something to be ignored nor commemorated. I want to intervene on this monument and make public, even if it is just in a temporary fashion, the true nature of the conquering of California. Some of my ideas include


1) Painting sheets with bible verses that condemn the acts depicted on the four lower pedestals and draping them across the front of the pedestals.


2) Fashioning a spear with a flag on the end featuring a christian cross and attaching it  to the hand of the Padre and placing the other end of it as to appear that he is killing the seated indian


3) Writing in big bold letters the original wording for the plaque on a roll of paper and posting it to the fence under the EARLY DAYS Pedestal.