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Indybay Feature

Remove George Washington Statue: Watsonville Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting

sm_remove_george_washington_bust_from_watsonville_plaza_park.jpg
Date:
Monday, August 03, 2020
Time:
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Event Type:
Meeting
Organizer/Author:
Remove George Washington Bust
Location Details:
City of Watsonville Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
(Online)

August 3rd at 6:30PM

Share your thoughts this Monday at the Parks & Recreation Commission meeting! It is essential that we show up expressing our concerns about the George Washington statue as the commission will be reporting to the city council after with suggestions.

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/287441181

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (786) 535-3211

Access Code: 287-441-181

Join from a video-conferencing room or system.
Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or inroomlink.goto.com
Meeting ID: 287 441 181
Or dial directly: 287441181@67.217.95.2 or 67.217.95.2##287441181

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting starts:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/287441181

Contact the Commission:

Parks Commission phone Number: 831-768-3240
Their email is: pcs [at] cityofwatsonville.org
Web address: https://www.cityofwatsonville.org/191/Parks-Recreation-Commission
Added to the calendar on Sat, Aug 1, 2020 6:13PM

Comments (Hide Comments)
by Polly Loftin (Polloft [at] yahoo.com )
To whom it may concern:
I am not in favor of removing the Geo Washington statue. First, I feel that we are judging someone from a time in history that, yes had slaves, there would be no USA without. And in his will he freed all of his slaves. Second, I think that we should look at the history of the slavic people, the ancestry of the man who donated the bust. If you know his and my ancestry you will know that Slavs were enslaved during the same period in history by Algerians and other Muslim peoples. Because of this you will find that most Slavs are very empathetic of what the blacks went through in the US. Third, I do not feel that trying to change history by removing statues and changing the names of things is very smart. We must use what we learn in history to not have bad things be repeated. Finally, I believe the Rodriguez family donated the land for the plaza for ALL to enjoy.

I have some ideas that I have seen in my travels to historical landmarks and museums that may help ALL to enjoy the plaza. This town is a melting pot with many different cultures that make up the history of this town. The town plaza should reflect all those cultures. Maybe we could contact l the different organizations and see if they would like to be a part of the Plaza Project. Also, I am sure the PV Historical Association could be involved. I,for one, am the great, great grand niece of Charles Ford and would be more than happy to share information about the Ford/ Cottrell family. So I am sure that other families would also share information about their families. 0ne of the historical things I have seen that maybe could work in the plaza was an all weather display of the history before and after the Alamo. We could do the same telling g the stories of Watsonville through the years: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I am going to try to join the meeting, but wanted to have my voice heard. I was unable to sign the petition against the removal as I am one who must remain confined because of COVID.

Thank you for the opportunity to give my opinion,
Polly J Loftin
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