SPOKANE, Wash. – Spokane City Council approved of a new process to review potentially offensive landmarks and street names.
The ordinance was approved in Monday night’s city council meeting.
The Spokane Human Rights Commission will receive requests from the community and will determine whether the landmark or street name in question is likely to “cause mental pain, suffering, or disrespect”.
The latest development is a push from the Pacific Islander community and allies to remove a statue in downtown Spokane.
The statue is of John R. Monaghan, a navy soldier who was involved in the colonization of Samoa in 1899. The statue includes a plaque that describes Samoans as “savage foes” and depicts them wielding primitive weapons.
“This is a small step in righting a wrong. I look forward to passing this,” said Spokane City Councilmember Paul Dillion. “I know this reverberates outside of Spokane. I’m sorry that it’s taken this long, but I can’t wait to be there when it happens.”
New councilwoman Lili Navarette, who is a Mexican immigrant, described her experience growing up in a colonized country with monuments that honored colonizers.