Arcata Plaza statue causes controversy

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ARCATA – Historic monuments can often be the topics for controversy and right now that discussion is happening in Arcata.

The discussion has prompted the city council to host an open study session which will look at various options that previous city councils have discussed in the past

The statue of the 25th President of the United States, William McKinley, will be discussed. The statue was a gift to the city from early businessman, George Zehndner, which some feel promote his imperial legacy.

The other piece is a plaque that commemorates the Jacoby Building which contains come language that refers to the building as a “refuge in a time of Indian troubles.”

A change.org petition titled “Removed the McKinley Statue and the racist plaque from the Arcata Plaza NOW” has received over 1,300 signatures and now the city council is hoping to move the discussion to the level of local government.

The meeting will be Monday night at the D Street Community Center from 5 to 7 and will be open to public comment.

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