Posted: August 5th, 2008

Resolution 8.04 - The Great Wall, the Heritage Parkscape, and Cultural and Historical Landmarks in Los Angeles

This Resolution was Approved By the National Latino Congreso on October 8, 2007, and amended July 19, 2008.

Whereas, the Great Wall of Los Angeles by Judy Baca and SPARC is one of the city’s great cultural landmarks and one of the country’s most respected monuments to inter-racial harmony, depicting the history of people of color and other ethnic groups in California from prehistoric times to the 1950’s as a mural along the Los Angeles River; and

Whereas, SPARC is working to restore and extend the Great Wall to bring people together through parks, public art, and education; and

Whereas, SPARC is creating pilot projects with The City Project for the Heritage Parkscape along the Los Angeles River to help revive the forgotten history of Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS: Cultural, historical and artistic monuments should reflect the diversity of a place and its people. People of color and women have been vital to the creation of Los Angeles throughout the history of the City and the area. Yet with almost 900 official cultural and historical landmarks in the City of Los Angeles as of January 2008, only about 76 relate to people of color, women, and Native American tribes; and

WHEREAS: UCLA Prof. Judy Baca and SPARC (Social and Public Art Resource Center), LULAC – Long Beach, Mujeres de la Tierra, and The City Project have submitted public comments presenting two major recommendations for revising the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Ordinance. The first is to redefine the criteria for designating monuments. The second is to redefine the responsibilities of the Commission. Both should promote cultural, historical, and artistic monuments that reflect diversity and democracy and reflect the following principles. The collection of monuments should faithfully, completely, and accurately depict the history and diversity of Los Angeles, including people of color, women, and workers. Monuments should stimulate and provoke a greater understanding of, and dialogue on, diversity, democracy, and freedom. The Commission should provide leadership for the protection and interpretation of such monuments, resources, and places.

1. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the organizations represented by delegates of the 2007 National Latino Congreso urge that the Great Wall be designated a national, state, and local cultural and historical landmark; and

2. FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that federal, state, and local agencies and the philanthropic community further support restoring and extending the Great Wall of Los Angeles; and

3. FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that federal, state, and local agencies and the philanthropic community further support the creation of the Heritage Parkscape to help revive the forgotten history of Los Angeles; and

4. FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Los ngeles designate additional official cultural and historic landmarks that fully and fairly recognize the contributions of people of color and women to Los Angeles.

5. FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED that the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Ordinance should be revised to redefine the criteria for designating monuments and the responsibilities of the Cultural Heritage Commission so that the collection of monuments faithfully, completely, and accurately depict the history and diversity of Los Angeles, including people of color, women, and workers, and so that monuments stimulate and provoke a greater understanding of, and dialogue on, diversity, democracy, and freedom.

Visit the Heritage Parkscape online and on flickr.

Learn more about Monuments, Diversity, and Democracy.