Activists gathered Friday in a Monroe, Michigan park near a statue of U.S. Army General George A. Custer. The crowd came together on the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Little Bighorn to demand the monument’s removal.
About two dozen people stand in the rain watching a native descendent adorned in feathers and fringe dance on stage. On the outskirts of the park is a towering sculpture of Custer on a horse. While some laud Custer as a fallen military hero who once lived in Monroe, others see him as a man who slaughtered Native Americans.
Monroe resident Katybeth Davis says she’s frustrated the City hasn’t relocated the statue.
“You literally have minorities telling you that this person offends them, the symbolism of it is offensive. 15,000 people have signed a petition saying hey, we don't like this, we want you to move it.”
Monroe City Council voted in April to hire a contractor to help determine what should be done with the Custer statue. The council says it’s still interviewing candidates for the position.