Remove Racist "Big Indian" Sign in Cincinnati

The Issue

This utterly racist sign, a 42-foot tall metal disgusting caricature of a Native American, has visibly marred a busy intersection in northern Cincinnati for well over 6 decades. Erected by a wealthy racist car dealer at a time when The Lone Ranger, Hollywood's disgraceful depiction of Native American culture, was America's most popular TV show, this gut-wrenching "Big Indian" sign stood for years at the entrance of Cherokee Motors, which sought to attract customers with such blatantly racist ads as "We're on a war path against high prices"; "Come in and smoke peace pipe"; We no scalp-um"; and "no Indian giving". The offensive ads have disappeared, but the offensive sign has not. There it remains as an insult to human dignity in front of MotorTime Auto Sales, whose owners have adamantly refused to remove it. It is high time for this disgraceful sign to join "Chief Wahoo", "Cleveland Indians", "Washington Redskins", and other shameful degradations of America's indigenous peoples, and disappear. We demand its removal immediately.

avatar of the starter
Werner LangePetition StarterChair, Ohio Peace Council

1,168

The Issue

This utterly racist sign, a 42-foot tall metal disgusting caricature of a Native American, has visibly marred a busy intersection in northern Cincinnati for well over 6 decades. Erected by a wealthy racist car dealer at a time when The Lone Ranger, Hollywood's disgraceful depiction of Native American culture, was America's most popular TV show, this gut-wrenching "Big Indian" sign stood for years at the entrance of Cherokee Motors, which sought to attract customers with such blatantly racist ads as "We're on a war path against high prices"; "Come in and smoke peace pipe"; We no scalp-um"; and "no Indian giving". The offensive ads have disappeared, but the offensive sign has not. There it remains as an insult to human dignity in front of MotorTime Auto Sales, whose owners have adamantly refused to remove it. It is high time for this disgraceful sign to join "Chief Wahoo", "Cleveland Indians", "Washington Redskins", and other shameful degradations of America's indigenous peoples, and disappear. We demand its removal immediately.

avatar of the starter
Werner LangePetition StarterChair, Ohio Peace Council

The Decision Makers

David Nils Hanson
Newton Falls Village Mayor
Seth Walsh
Cincinnati City Council
LuAnne Amos
Pleasant Plain Village Council
Nathan Meadows
Minerva Village Council
Dan Wimmers
Ottawa Hills Village Council

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Petition created on December 31, 2023