City officials form sub-committee to discuss controversial monument’s removal
BANGOR– Someone marked the Estevan Gomez monument sitting on the Bangor Waterfront with a red handprint. This comes just before the city was set to hold public meetings regarding the removal of the monument.
A red handprint is typically a symbol representing violence against indigenous women.
The city was approached by leaders of the Penobscot Nation earlier this year with a request to take down the monument.
Gomez is considered one of the earliest explorers of the Penobscot River, however historical accounts say he attempted to sell indigenous people into slavery.
The handprint was scrubbed off the monument this afternoon.
“Whatever the case may be, it’s graffiti regardless. We don’t make any determination or consideration about the message or whatever it may or may not be,” said Bangor Parks & Recreation director, Tracy Willette.”It’s merely graffiti, it’s paint, whatever the markings are and are treated as such.”
Since the request by Penobscot Nation, the city has formed a sub-committee to look into it.
They’ll be holding public meetings throughout the month of September.
The first one is next Tuesday at 9 a.m. via zoom.
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