Custer billboard denounces controversial figure's representations in Monroe County

A local activist group has partnered with The Anishinaabek Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party to erect a billboard along I-75 denouncing the various representations of Gen. George Armstrong Custer present cross Monroe County.

Good Trouble Monroe and the caucus are still accepting donations to fund the erection of the 14' x 48' billboard, which shows a photograph of Custer that is crossed out in red next to the slogan "Monroe honors a war criminal."

"Despite increasing public pressure from local activists and Native Americans nationwide, Monroe, Michigan continues to honor war criminal General George Armstrong Custer with street names, a school, social events, an airport, and a large bronze statue prominently displayed at its city center," the two groups said in a joint press release. "Since 2020 the Anishinaabek Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party has been working with local activists from Good Trouble Monroe attending city council meetings to share news of the growing push to rid Monroe of its Custer worship once and for all. The volume of attention was so great that the Mayor and members of city council voted to stop reading letters aloud at their meetings, reduced public speaking opportunities, and refused to conduct hybrid meetings which would have allowed for further Native input. Plans to hire an impartial mediator to oversee future projects related to Custer’s representation around Monroe were also abandoned."

Local activists made several attempts over the past few years to have the City of Monroe's Custer monument - located at the corner of W. Elm Ave. and N. Monroe St. - removed, relocated, or modified in such a way that better reflects the full story of Custer’s controversial life and legacy. Other community members vehemently argued against moving or modifying the statue.

Monroe City Council debated the matter for months before opting to bring in an outside consultant to facilitate discussions with residents and, ultimately, provide the city with a recommendation on what to do with the monument. But individuals both for and against the statue’s relocation criticized council for how it chose the facilitator, and the governing body opted to shelve the entire discussion indefinitely.

"The National Congress of American Indians voted unanimously in favor of dismantling memorials to George Armstrong Custer across the United States," the joint press statement reads. "The United Tribes of Michigan voted unanimously calling for the removal of a Custer statue in Monroe, Michigan. The Michigan Democratic Party also passed a similar resolution...

"...Monroe must evolve with the rest of the country; instead, it continues to honor a war criminal."

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Custer billboard denounces controversial figure's images across Monroe