Residents, tribal members urge Board of Appeals to rehear decision on 'Early Days' statue

Dozens of residents, Native American leaders and students used the Board of Appeals public-comment period to press for removal of the 'Early Days' statue in Civic Center Plaza or for a rehearing of a recent board decision to retain it.

Speakers described the statue as historically inaccurate and demeaning to Native Americans. "I would respectfully ask you remove the statue," said Mary Jean Robertson, who identified herself as Cherokee and a longtime San Francisco resident, describing personal family trauma linked to historic violence. Janine Lewa, Central Pomo from Sonoma County, said the statue "depicts racism to Native Americans" and urged the board to remove it "as soon as possible." An 11-year-old speaker, Sokyle McGill, told the board the statue is "really racist" and urged its removal.

Several witnesses tied the sculpture to broader historical harms, noting the mission system, forced removals and cultural erasure. Others urged procedural transparency and asked the board to reconsider statements made in earlier hearings by a commissioner that commentators called dismissive. Some speakers asked for a rehearing; others said removal is part of a national movement to reassess public monuments that celebrate colonialism.

Not all speakers agreed: one speaker urged the board to retain the statue as a teaching moment, cautioning that removal can erase history. The board did not take immediate action on the public comments; the remarks entered the record as part of the evening’s general public-comment item.