In recent developments surrounding the vandalism case of the Junipero Serra statue, activists from Marin county are asking the District Attorney to drop the charges.

Request to Drop Vandalism Charges

According to The Marin Independent Journal, activists urge Marin County District Attorney Lori Frugoli to dismiss vandalism convictions against five defendants a year after protestors damaged a Junipero Serra statue at a San Rafael church.

The post also mentioned that activists recently issued an online statement asking for the allegations to be withdrawn and a new Indigenous monument built on the site. Meanwhile, members of the local tribe, who were not involved in the incident, expressed their hope for a new statue commemorating tribal heritage.

Additionally, the post said that Lucida Vidauri, a native of the Coast Miwok of Marin, believes that future generations in Marin County and other counties should be taught about the heritage of the place they live on.

The same post said that Vidauri also stated that the church could not continue to deny the existence of Junipero Serra. Furthermore, she noted that the reality has been documented and that it must be faced and dealt with for people to move forward in their healing.

On the other hand, the post recounted a statement last year that was issued following the incident. In the statement, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco condemned the vandalism and claimed that criticism of Serra was unfounded.

The post further recounted that Fr. Serra and his Franciscan companions gave up all worldly ambitions to devote their life to serving the indigenous peoples and thereby safeguard them from the atrocities of their fellow Spaniards. 

Moreover, the post said that looking to Fr. Serra as an image of Indian oppression is comparable to looking to Abraham Lincoln as an icon of the United States' slavery system, as per Archbishop Cordileone.

Side of the Defendants

On the post, attorney Gabriela Lopez said that the church requested the restitution for the damaged statue. However, she finds it aggravating that her clients have had to wait nearly a year with these criminal accusations hanging over their heads. 

Marin, she noted, strives to portray itself as a forward-thinking community, as per the same post. As a result, it appears that a district attorney who represents this society should be prosecuting these types of accusations, essentially doing the Catholic Church's bidding.

The post also said that the church's plea for restitution, Lopez added, is somewhat ironic given the church's history of colonization and forced conversion of Indigenous peoples through the mission effort. She went on to allege that they still haven't paid for the damage or the restitution.

Backstory of the Junipero Serra Case

According to San Francisco CBS Local, five persons have been charged with felony vandalism after damaging and taking down a statue of Saint Junipero Serra at the Mission San Rafael Arcángel last month. 

The post also said that the vandals were among 40 to 50 demonstrators who gathered at Saint Raphael's Catholic Church, located at 1104 Fifth Avenue in San Rafael, on Oct. 12. They disobeyed the group's plan and sprayed red paint on the monument before removing it from its stand.

As per the same post, officers from the San Rafael Police Department stated they had been monitoring the planned protest and had collaborated with the Archdiocese of San Francisco to arrange a reaction. Protesters used social media to spread information about the rally on Indigenous Peoples Day, which is observed by individuals who oppose Columbus Day commemorations. 

The post revealed 40-year-old Ines Shiam Gardilcic, 29-year-old Victoria Eva Montanopena, 36-year-old Melissa Aguilar, 36-year-old Mayorgi Nadeska Delgadillo, and 25-year-old Moira Cribben Van de Walker had been recognized as the suspects.

 

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