No to the New Mission Bell

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Starr King Unitarian Universalist Church unequivocally supports the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band in calling the City of Gilroy not to install a new mission bell.

On Monday, Jan 10, 2022, members of Starr King UU Church attended the Gilroy City Council meeting to support the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band in urging the city to reconsider installing a new El Camino Real Mission Bell. The council refused to discuss it or even to put the topic on a future agenda. The California missions have been called “concentration camps with a cross.” Putting up a mission bell (without a sensitive message about the atrocities it represents) is an inexcusable act that white washes history and denies the domination, dehumanization, and erasure of the Indigenous People of California.

Action Request

Since the Gilroy City Council refused to put the bell on their agenda, contacting the Gilroy Arts and Culture Commission is the next step. Email addresses are here. Please write to them!
TO:
Melanie Reynisson  melanie.reynisson@ci.gilroy.ca.us
Nancy Fierro  nancy.fierro@ci.gilroy.ca.us
Judy Bozzo  judy.bozzo@ci.gilroy.ca.us
Lisa Carter  lisa.carter@cityofgilroy.org
Camille McCormack  Camille.McCormack@ci.gilroy.ca.us
Federico Saldana  federico.saldana@ci.gilroy.ca.us
CC:
Carina Baksha  carina.baksa@ci.gilroy.ca.us
Amah Mutsun Tribal Band amahmutsun2020@gmail.com