AIM Going to Larned City Council Meeting
Larned City gave permit for
racist "Scalp 'em" & BLOOD!" street paintings
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January 6, 2002 Press Release |
FROM: American Indian Movement Kansas Support Group (AIM KS
SG)
DATE: January 6th,
2002
Contact: Joni Tucker-Nisbeth, LBSW
PO Box 425
Hutchinson, KS 67504
RE: Larned
KS city street derogatory street mural..
"Scalp 'Em Indians".
AIM representatives and other
concerned citizens set to address Larned KS City council at 01/07/02 city meeting.
AIM KS SG representative, Joni Tucker-Nisbeth, American Indian activists and other concerned citizens are scheduled to meet with Larned KS city council at 6:30 pm 01/07/02. The meet is to address concerns of a Larned High School (LHS) homecoming mural that is painted on a Larned public city street.
The mural was painted in front of the High school on October 5 of this school year as part of LHS "Indians" homecoming (see attached 10/24/01 summary). The large mural is an LHS "Indian" tomahawk that has blood dripping with the statements in red paint as "BLOOD!", "Scalp 'em Indians" and "BLOOD THE SCENT OF VICTORY!". (Photographs are available upon request). Ms. Tucker-Nisbeth saw the offending mural on that day when she was at Larned visiting family. The group has provided city officials with educational materials in advance and intends to ask that city guidelines be implemented and enforced to ensure this type of offense is not committed against Native people.
Ms Tucker-Nisbeth and others have also attempted to meet with Larned school officials, but their requests were ignored. Soon after, Ms. Tucker-Nisbeth was in Larned again and noted that someone had attempted to "paint over" most of the violent words and imagery that stereotypes Native people as bloodthirsty killers. However, the tomahawk was left in the mural, which is offensive to many Native people. Adults whom allow these types of negative images and statements against any race or culture are responsible for perpetuating an environment to children that teaches and condones racism, bigotry, and violence.