Spokane council votes to relocate John R. Monahan monument after years of debate and negotiated plan

The Spokane City Council approved a resolution authorizing relocation of the John R. Monahan monument from the public right-of-way after extended public comment and council debate about the statue's history and the process used to consider its future.

The resolution (20 25-31) authorizes removing the bronze figure and relocating it in coordination with family members and community stakeholders. Will Hewings, a downtown resident and U.S. Navy veteran, urged the council to preserve the statue but not hide it: "If you take it down, at least put it up," he said, referencing Monahan's military service. Other speakers, including members of the Pacific Islander community and neighborhood residents, said the monument's plaque and depiction misrepresent Samoan fighters and use language the community finds offensive.

Why it matters: The statue sits in the Riverside Historic District and is referenced in the district nomination; council members said the site is a delicate mix of historic preservation, community memory, and traffic‑safety redesign. Council member Cathcart said there has been little public fact-finding in the record packet and advocated for a fuller community process; other members and community speakers said a mediated process involving family, historians and Pacific Islander representatives resulted in a relocation plan.

Testimony and context: Andrew Rawls (recorded as Andrew Rolls/Rawls in the transcript), a North Indian Trail resident, provided historical context about the military actions in Samoa at the turn of the 20th century and urged building memorials that also recognize Samoan service. Council member Dylan said the relocation resulted from a multi-year, mediated process engaging historians, veterans, descendants and Pacific Islander community members. Council member Bingle and others proposed adding an explanatory plaque as an alternative and said the situation was a missed opportunity for contextualization. Council member McCluskey described the intersection and traffic geometry as chaotic and said coordinated relocation would improve both safety and public space.

Discussion versus decision: Council debate ranged from calls for additional public hearings and factual findings to recognition of a negotiated agreement with family and community groups; the council voted to authorize relocation. The transcript does not record a detailed roll-call tally in the excerpt provided.

Ending: Council members said the relocation should be handled carefully and in consultation with stakeholders so that the city's history is preserved while removing language and depictions the community finds offensive.