No More Mission Myths - Remove the Bells

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Dear Governor Newsom and members of the California State Legislature:

We urge you to pass legislation to remove all of the “El Camino Real” mission bell markers from state highways and other lands within the jurisdiction of the state of California. As symbols of the domination and enslavement of Indigenous peoples in the California mission system, these bells do not belong on public display.

El Camino Real bell markers were installed over the past century to boost tourism and promote a fanciful, inaccurate and racist interpretation of mission history. Towering above public roads traveled by millions of Californians, these painful monuments glorify the Spanish mission system that sought to eliminate Native American cultures, spiritual practices and ways of life.

California’s missions led directly to the deaths of about 100,000 Indigenous people and were places of immense suffering and rampant abuse. Today’s California tribes that survived the missions—and subsequent Mexican and American colonization—continue to experience the impacts of historical trauma and most remain landless within their own territories.

Please honor the requests of tribal leaders by requiring that Caltrans, California State Parks, and other state agencies take immediate action to remove these harmful bell markers from public property. As a step towards addressing the damage caused by California’s legacy of installing and maintaining these symbols, please establish a process for consulting with tribal representatives regarding new truth-telling historical markers, signs and other initiatives honoring California’s Indigenous peoples.

Upon signing this petition, an email will be sent to Governor Newsom’s office.


Latest Signatures
1,464 Krystal S. Santa Ana, CA Dec 03, 2023
1,463 Ivan S. Santa Ana, California Remove El Camino Real Bells Dec 03, 2023
1,462 Sergio B. Orange , Ca Dec 03, 2023
1,461 Joshua C. Costa Mesa, CA Dec 03, 2023
1,460 Nico A. Santa Ana, Ca Remove El Camino real bells, represents a lot of trauma from indigenous people of descent, and also acknowledges racist old practices that ultimately discourage the human race. Dec 03, 2023
1,459 Alex S. Santa Ana, Ca Such a terrible symbol for our Native Americans! Dec 03, 2023
1,458 Jenny B. Dec 03, 2023
1,457 Janina B. Santa Ana, CA Please El Camino Bells in thw statenof california Dec 01, 2023
1,456 SofiaLorraine D. El Paso, TX Nov 28, 2023
1,455 sandra v. fullerton, ca No more reminders of subjugation, plz. Nov 28, 2023
1,454 Nanabah N. Anaheim, Ca It's racist El Camino Real put them in a museum Nov 26, 2023
1,453 Tatiana O. Bronx, New York Nov 26, 2023
1,452 Dea B. Butler, Pa Nov 25, 2023
1,451 Guillermo R. Thornton , Co Nov 25, 2023
1,450 Aster P. La Pine, OREGON Landback Nov 20, 2023
1,449 Courtney G. Baltimore, Maryland Nov 19, 2023
1,448 Nakia b. Portage, MI I hope this helps ❤️ Nov 19, 2023
1,447 Janet H. La Puente, CA Nov 18, 2023
1,446 Francisco C. Irvine , Ca Nov 15, 2023
1,445 Panda P. LA Nov 15, 2023
1,444 Gladis C. North Hollywood, California Nov 11, 2023
1,443 Jeanette S. Fayetteville, NC Nov 11, 2023
1,442 Andres M. Andres, California Nov 09, 2023
1,441 Laurel B. Sunnyvale, CA Nov 02, 2023
1,440 Michael M. Barstow, CA Oct 24, 2023
1,439 Monica C. Spokane, WA Oct 23, 2023
1,438 Esmeralda N. Santa Ana, CA Oct 22, 2023
1,437 Alexis R. Santa Ana, California Oct 22, 2023
1,436 Alexis M. Santa Ana , Ca Oct 22, 2023
1,435 Elizabeth G. Santa Ana, CA Oct 22, 2023
1,434 Veronica T. Santa Ana , Ca Oct 22, 2023
1,433 Laura D. Santa Ana, CA Oct 22, 2023
1,432 Matthew M. Whittier, CA Oct 21, 2023
1,431 Maria B. Hacienda Heights, CA Remove the colonists bells from El Camino Real Whittier Blvd Oct 21, 2023
1,430 Gabriel B. Whittier, Ca Remove colonist bells…put them in a museum Oct 21, 2023
1,429 Raquel G. Covina, CA Oct 21, 2023
1,428 Elvia H. Riverside , Ca Oct 21, 2023
1,427 Aline G. Pomona, Ca Oct 21, 2023
1,426 Ruben D. Orange, Califormia Oct 21, 2023
1,425 Melina B. Calabasas, CA Oct 21, 2023
1,424 Angel C. placentia, CA Oct 16, 2023
1,423 Amira A. Austin, TX Oct 09, 2023
1,422 Jennifer M. Stockton, United States (+1) Oct 04, 2023
1,421 Krissa H. Gillette , Wy Oct 03, 2023
1,420 LORENA M. Stockton, California Oct 03, 2023
1,419 Dennise H. Lodi, CA Oct 02, 2023
1,418 Shay R. Black Hawk, SD Sep 30, 2023
1,417 ESTREYA A. gillette, WYOMING Sep 30, 2023
1,416 Kat S. Gillette , Wy Sep 30, 2023
1,415 Diana B. Wyoming Sep 30, 2023

When the Mission Bells Rang — A children's book written by Judith Scott in consultation with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. Available now in print and PDF versions!

"Instruments of Colonization" Podcast Check out this special 25-minute podcast episode about El Camino Real bells from Challenging Colonialism podcasts. Available free at Apple Podcasts, other podcast platforms, or as a mp3 at Indybay.

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