Junipero Serra Statue's Sudden Removal Shocks Community and Archdiocese

A recent, unannounced move has sent ripples of surprise and disappointment through the community: the removal of the Father Junipero Serra statue from its prominent perch alongside Highway 280 in Hillsborough. The statue, a long-standing landmark, was taken down by Caltrans, citing safety concerns and an expired permit.

However, the abruptness of its disappearance has left many, particularly the Archdiocese of San Francisco, feeling blindsided.

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone expressed his profound disappointment, noting that he had been in ongoing discussions with Caltrans regarding the statue's future. The sudden removal, without prior notification, felt like a betrayal of these conversations.

For the Archdiocese and many Catholics, Father Serra is a revered figure, a missionary who brought Christianity to California and founded many of its missions. His canonization by Pope Francis in 2015 solidified his spiritual significance, making the statue's removal a particularly sensitive issue.

The statue had stood for over five decades, a familiar sight for commuters and a symbol for many of California's foundational history.

Its presence, however, has also been a point of contention for indigenous communities and others who view Serra as a symbol of colonial oppression and the forced conversion and exploitation of native peoples. This dual perspective has fueled a complex debate around historical monuments across the state and the nation.

Caltrans stated that the statue posed a safety hazard due to its location and the difficulty of maintenance, adding that the permit for its placement had expired in 2017.

While these are official reasons, the lack of communication preceding the removal has been the primary source of community frustration. Many feel that a more transparent process and advanced notice would have allowed for proper public discourse and a more respectful handling of a monument with such significant cultural and historical ties.

The removal has reignited conversations about how public spaces should represent historical figures and events, particularly those with contested legacies.

As communities grapple with reconciling past actions with present values, the fate of statues like that of Junipero Serra often becomes a focal point for deeper societal discussions about remembrance, reconciliation, and representation.