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By Jordan King
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California’s decision to take down a statue of St. Junipero Serra in August has sparked fury from people, including political commentators and church leaders.
The 26-foot statue of the colonial-era 18th-century Spanish missionary, which has been in place for 50 years, was removed because it “did not meet current Transportation Art Program requirements and had been a frequent target of graffiti and vandalism,” California’s Department of Transportation (CalTrans) told Newsweek.
But the move has garnered attention over the past few days, with political commentator Matt Wallace calling for the topic to go viral and branding it “an attack on all of us.”
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“They hate Christianity because their souls are black,” he said in a Wednesday post on X that has more than 300,000 views.
Why It Matters
The removal of the 26-foot statue of Saint Junípero Serra, a prominent Catholic missionary and California historical figure, has rekindled a fierce debate over the commemoration of controversial historical figures in public spaces.
It also touches on a debate over the legacy of figures involved in colonialism – the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone, a nonprofit that represents the Ramaytush Ohlone—the Indigenous people of the San Francisco Peninsula—had previously requested the statue be removed.
It is not known whether this letter played a part in CalTrans’ decision, but District 4’s public information officer, Jeneane Crawford, told Newsweek that “local Ohlone tribes, who have ancestral ties to the land in San Mateo County, were consulted.”
What To Know
CalTrans first announced it was removing the statue in March and went through with the action in August.
“Caltrans removed the statue ... because the installation did not meet current Transportation Art Program requirements and had been a frequent target of graffiti and vandalism,” Crawford told Newsweek.
She added: "The artist’s family members were interviewed for the Historic Resources Evaluation Report, notified of the decision to remove the statue, and given the opportunity to fund its removal and preservation. Local Ohlone tribes, who have ancestral ties to the land in San Mateo County, were consulted. In addition, Caltrans solicited input from multiple historical, arts, and religious organizations."
In 2020, the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone wrote in a letter to CalTrans that the statue should be removed because it “violates the separation of Church and State” and it “honors the founder of the California missions that destroyed Native peoples and cultures.”
“Serra was an evangelist and a colonizer,” it said, before adding: “There is nothing to celebrate here. No person should be honored for their direct participation in the destruction of an entire people and their culture.”
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Archbishop of San Francisco Salvatore Cordileone told ABC7 News that he did not believe CalTrans officials had consulted with anyone who thought differently about the figure.
"Would we expect this treatment if it happened to be associated with another religious organization?” he asked. “I think not."
But CalTrans said that its outreach, which started in the spring of 2024, included Archbishop Cordileone, St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Burlingame, San Mateo County Historical Society, California Missions Foundation, San Mateo County Arts Commission, local elected officials and the artist's family.
The department said that Cordileone was formally notified in November last year. “Claims that our agency failed to inform these parties are inaccurate,” it added.
What People Are Saying
Political commentator Matt Wallace said in a post on X: “California is quietly removing statues of Saints and of Christian importance across the state. The Saint Junipero Serra statue was a local landmark that was widely loved and traveled to by many. IT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1976. They removed it without a trace in the middle of the night! Not even so much as a warning to the Church…
“This is an attack on all of us. We must stand United against evil. BRING BACK THE STATUE!!!”
Archbishop Cordileone told the National Catholic Register: “I learned about the removal of the St. Junípero Serra statue after it happened. No one fought for St. Junípero Serra because apparently, officials from Caltrans and the Transportation Art Program didn’t consult with anyone who would give them an opinion that differed from their own. Once again, Catholics are subject to prejudice and marginalization.”
Conservative author Janie Johnson, who is followed on X by major names like Vice President JD Vance, said in a post: “Saint Junipero Serra! He helped and serviced the poor! Bring back our Saints ! Attack on Christianity! California is Satanic! Attack the good! This is what evil does!”
CalTrans' Public Information Officer for District 4 told Newsweek: "Due to the use of shot-crete and rebar construction materials, the statue could not be moved and was demolished. There are no current plans to install another statue in this location."
Who Was Saint Junípero Serra?
Junípero Serra was an 18th-century Franciscan missionary who founded nine of California’s 21 Spanish missions, beginning with Mission San Diego in 1769, according to the National Catholic Register. The Vatican canonized him in 2015, praising his role in spreading Christianity and establishing the Catholic Church in the Americas.
But Serra’s legacy has long been contested. According to records cited in a 2020 letter by the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone to Caltrans, Serra oversaw a system where Indigenous people were coerced into mission life, punished for practicing native customs, and subjected to forced labor. “We reject the myth that he was a benevolent protector of the Ohlone people,” the letter reads. “He actively promoted the destruction of our culture and the domination of our ancestors.”
Serra’s supporters focus on his canonization and spiritual legacy, highlighting his foundational role in the spread of Catholicism across early California and the network of missions he helped establish.
They also point to reports that he advocated for more humane treatment of native people - the New World Encyclopedia, an online reference book run by the Unification Church, says Serra "grew increasingly frustrated with the abuse of his converts by Spanish soldiers" and traveled to Mexico City to argue for the removal of a governor and "set forth, in effect, a bill of rights for the natives."
What Happens Next
CalTrans has not said where the statue’s current location is - the site where the Serra statue once stood now features a simple display case, marking the absence instead of replacing it with another figure.
The removal of the Serra statue is likely to remain a flashpoint in California’s ongoing debate about how to reckon with its colonial legacy and diverse cultural narrative.
Update, 10/9/25 4:18 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with comment from CalTrans.
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