It’s long past time to cast aside from our local lexicon the racist roots of President Franklin Pierce. Rather than repeating the name of an incompetent president, @PierceCo and @FPSD402 should be leading the call for names that lift up our local spirit. thenewstribune.com/article2436281…
I am a lifelong Pierce County resident, product of Franklin Pierce Schools, alumnus of Franklin Pierce High School, former staff at Pierce County government, and board member of the Franklin Pierce Foundation. Rather than feeling bonded to this ubiquitous namesake, I am ashamed.
Consider Franklin Pierce's place in history. Among the worst presidents, ever. Event the former guy ranks higher. Why are we amplifying Franklin “Bleeding Kansas” Pierce? "The bottom three have been always been Pierce, Johnson and Buchanan, in that order." washingtonpost.com/history/2021/0…
Franklin Pierce of New Hampshire (over on the other coast) was nominated almost by luck, then narrowly elected. During is pre-Civil War presidency (1853-1857), he placated Southerners seeking to expand slavery, and was not nominated for a second term. whitehouse.gov/about-the-whit…
On the 14th President of the United States: "For most historians, Pierce is viewed as an inept chief executive whose traditional style of leadership failed in the face of the massive electoral divisions over slavery and the aggressiveness of Southerners. " millercenter.org/president/pier…
How did Pierce County get the name, anyway? The Oregon Territorial Legislature gave us this gift on Dec 22, 1852, less than two months after he was elected. There was no thoughtful reflection of the legacy, as he had yet to take office. Thanks, guys. sos.wa.gov/archives/timel…
Yes, we need an epic rebranding for our county name, and the school district that blindly followed along. Think of it as a do-over. We must demand a renaming of #PierceCounty that respects our diversity and honors the land and tradition of local peoples. king5.com/article/news/l…
A statement is a start: "We acknowledge that we are on the traditional homelands of the Puyallup Tribe... we commit to uplifting the voices, experiences, and histories of the Indigenous people of this land and beyond." But it deserves more than a footnote. puyallup-tribe.com/ourtribe/Land%…
Pierce County is a political construct imposed on the land of Coast Salish Nations. "The land that would become Pierce County was home to the present day Nisqually, Puyallup, Squaxin, Steilacoom, and Muckleshoot tribes..." historylink.org/file/8001
Pierce County is a political construct imposed by European explorers, er invaders. What was it like before they decided to conquer and pave? Maps show cultures and languages of the Coast Salish Peoples throughout what we now call the Puget Sound region. native-land.ca/maps/territori…
To wrap this up, #FranklinPierce was a disaster. I want my county and my high school renamed with input from the community. I want us to learn from our racist history and do better. Will you join me by contacting @PierceCoCouncil? Don't blame them. Demand anti-racist leadership!
Read the full thread: threadreaderapp.com/thread/1410655… then contact your councilmember: piercecountywa.gov/5226/Office-of…
Forgot to add that I am a graduate of @piercecollege. That's a total of six affiliations with the infamously racist President Franklin Pierce. We need to change all of these names. Pierce be gone!
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