The Centennial Land Run Monument commemorates the opening of the Unassigned Land in Oklahoma Territory with the Land Run of 1889.  It is one of the world’s largest bronze sculptures featuring 45 heroic figures of land run participants, frozen in motion as they race to claim new homesteads.  This Monument is a Tribute to Genocide, it is indicative of the systemic racism Indigenous people face in this state and across the nation.  This systemic racism has led to the genocide of indigenous people at the hands of police, Indian Health Service, government officials, and ordinary citizens at a higher rate percapita than any other population in the US.   

Indigenous peoples were forced to relocate to Indian Territory under the harshest of conditions, many died along the way.  They were promised once relocated they would be free to live unharmed and untouched for as long as the waters flow and the grass grows.   Once in Indian Territory, indigenous people had a hard life adapting to new lands, weather conditions, and oftentimes starvation.  Even so, Indigenous people began forming communities and towns and just as they were beginning to get a foothold in Indian Territory, Congress decided to breach all treaties made with Indigenous people again.  Through a series of Congressional Acts, Indigenous people were provided with 40-160 acres of land known as allotments.  This allotment system tore families apart geographically and tribal communities were destroyed.   The so called "surplus" after allotment was opened to homesteaders who ran over each other and killed each other for the "free land".  No person of color and no Indigenous persons were allowed to participate in the Land Runs.  

We demand: 1) They take it down! 2) The literature, plaques and website provide a real history of how the indigenous people of this land was run over and killed for their property; 3) A monument of equal stature placed right beside this one that depicts our native/indigenous history! and 4) Develop and make available accurate, community informed curriculum for Oklahoma elementary schools about the Land Runs of Oklahoma.

We are no longer willing to allow this symbol of pain and suffering to stand as a Tribute to Genocide in Oklahoma.