PORTLAND, Ore. — During the summer and into fall of 2020, Portland statues fell like leaves . Spurred by racial justice protests following the murder of George Floyd, demonstrators targeted and toppled historical figures for their ties to racism, colonialism, misogyny or some combination of the three.
Others, like the beloved Thompson elk statue , were damaged more out of inconsideration than malice. In the years since, the monuments have mostly languished amid delays and hand-wringing. At one point, the nonprofit Regional Arts & Culture Council recommended that only the elk statue be returned .
Now, Portland Commissioner Dan Ryan's office says there's a plan in place for each of these monuments — or at least the beginnings of one. "The Monuments Project has been a long and complicated process — much like our nation’s long and complicated history — and while this process has been lengthy, we are finally making progress," Ryan said in a statement. "The Elk is returning, The Promised Land is retired, and the presidents are getting repaired.
"Portlanders will have many more opportunities to engage as we continue this dialogue — I am hopeful that when the monuments are returned with interpretations, they will serve to both inform and heal our community." Here's what the Portland Monuments Project has to say about the status of each, including some unattributed quotes that city officials say is "representative feedback from public comments, testimony and City-led publi.
