New York Governor Looks to Remove ‘Offensive’ Artwork from the State Capitol

And while there is certainly some debate as to whether or not the artwork should be removed, Gov. Hochul believes wholeheartedly that the depictions are offensive to Native American residents of the state and, therefore, shouldn’t be in a government building.

Government murals became more common after the Great Depression when the government commissioned them in an effort to provide funding for artists like painters and musicians.

The nearly 100-year-old mural, painted by William de Leftwich Dodge, shows some of the earliest battles on New York State soil between the Indigenous population and colonizers.

Mural painting reached the height of popularity when he was working, and he famously completed a series of mural paintings for the Library of Congress. He died in New York City at the age of 68.

Gov. Hochul said in a recent statement: “Indigenous peoples, in particular, are often depicted in artworks in a manner that reflects harmful racial stereotypes and glorifies violence against Indigenous peoples. Such depictions do not reflect the values of New York State.” And therefore, she believes it’s time to “reassess.”

A study by the University of Michigan published in 2020 found 65 percent of native respondents were offended by sports fans imitating the “tomahawk chop”. Over half said they were offended by the name of the Redskin’s baseball team.

And it seems that Hochul is correct in her belief that many Native Americans in New York do not appreciate the offensive paintings.

Europeans moving in to colonize the area and conduct trade destabilized the region. Eventually, the United States government resettled the land in Southern New York and forcibly evicted the Iroquois and other native people who were living there.

Counselor of the Seneca Nation, JC Seneca, recently said that he was “disgusted” when he saw the painting, explaining, “It’s braggadocios about killing my people. They killed a lot of our people and stole a lot of our land” (via MSN).

In 2020, activists held a rally in Iowa to protest three offensive monuments still displayed there. Central to their complaint was the argument that the capitol should be a welcoming place for all.

The statement reads, “To ensure that all New Yorkers are welcomed in the capitol, this year Gov. Hochul will commence a comprehensive review of artistic representation of Indigenous peoples in the capitol, with invited participation from representatives from each of the nine Indigenous Nations.”

The original mural, “The Life of Washington,” featured a depiction of a native person dead on the ground while pioneers stood by his corpse.

In 2022, she also supported New York education officials when they decided to remove all Native American mascots that many found disrespectful from schools around the state.

When elected in 2021, she became the first female governor in New York’s history. She is a Democrat and an activist for women’s issues.

In recent years, many Americans have changed the long-standing opinion of the explorer, and now, Columbus statutes are being removed from their place in squares and government buildings all over the country.

At the time, Carmela Mantello, the Troy City Council President called for an investigation, citing it as a possible act of bigotry against Italian Americans.

The removal and vandalization of Columbus statues began after the death of George Floyd when many Americans took to the streets to dismantle the many symbols of racism and colonialism that litter public spaces.

He said in a statement, “Columbus did a lot of rape and pillaging. They need to think about his presence in the state [New York] Capitol” (via MSN).

However, people looking at his history call his motivations into question and dispute the claim that he had discovered North America when people were already living there.

And while not everyone agrees with the governor’s policies, or specifically her decision to remove the art in question, almost 80,000 Native Americans who live in the state of New York certainly do.

Brookings reported in 2022 that 78% of Native American voters think the federal government has failed to honor treaties signed with Native tribes. Many indigenous people feel the federal government isn’t doing enough to make them feel welcome.

This poll looked at Native Americans living in majority-native areas, who seemed to experience the most discrimination there. 54% reported discrimination in applying for jobs and the same number also reported difficulty being considered for promotions and equal pay. Regardless of where Native Americans live, a significant percentage reported feeling discriminated against in daily life.

Native Americans were not officially given the right to vote until 1924. Before that time they were not technically US citizens. Many indigenous people do not believe in the ability of a non-tribal government to keep their word and look out for Native American’s best interests.

But as Gov. Hochul has shown she wants to leave New York as a more racially just state than she found it.