THANKS TO YOU, we now have over 700 signers to the Rename Harney petition!! And a double thank-you to those who included their reason for signing. We are already aware of opposition to this proposal so support from each and every one of you is crucial!
 
Media coverage has been wonderful, including from the indigenous communities. Indian County Today, the preeminent national First Nations news source, has given us tremendous coverage with both a 7-minute newscast and an extensive article:
Newscast, starting at minute 19:00:   https://indiancountrytoday.com/newscasts/mary-kim-titla-04-27-2021
Online story:  https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/a-bridge-between-cultures
And then an interview with KUOW, Seattle’s NPR affiliate:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/efforts-are-underway-to-rename-harney-channel-near/id1044408194?i=1000518729417
 
In addition, our story has run in all three of the local newspapers in San Juan County.
 
We also have a Facebook page, Cayou Channel.  Please “like” us so you can keep up with our progress with this proposal.
 
We have already been communicating with the staff at the State of Washington responsible for the geographic names process and they are encouraging. They told us that we are going about this renaming process in the right way. The committee may be meeting in June and, thanks to your signatures, we will be ready.
 
Thanks again for your support, and please help spreading the word about this proposal!  The website, again, is:   change.org/renameharney
 
By the way, we have more information about Harney’s conduct as commander at the Battle of Ash Hollow against the Sioux (pictured here in a public domain drawing). And, although it’s behind a paywall, the Omaha-Herald ran an extensive article on July 21, 2017 about the battle.
Finally, we see that the Ellsworth American on July 15, 1855, quoted the Boston Journal about that battle which General Harney commanded:
“. . . a cold-blooded massacre, in which the rule of civilized warfare was disregarded, and in which every sentiment of honor and humanity were outraged. The course pursued by General Harney, in abusing the flag of truce, seems to us as treacherous and as criminal as that of the pirate on the ocean, who displays a friendly flag until he has lured his unsuspecting victim within his reach, and then runs up the skull and cross bones, and pours forth his death dealing broadsides.”