A small group of protesters and counter-protesters gathered outside of MotorTime Auto Sales on Jan. 15 to voice their opinions about the controversial 42-foot “Big Indian” sign, which has stood outside of the used car lot’s entrance in Carthage since 1957.
Protesters and counter-protesters stood at the sign, located in a high-traffic area at the intersection of Vine Street and Paddock Road, and received mixed reactions from passersby in their cars — ranging from supportive honks to shouting obscenities.
While supporters of the sign say it is an inoffensive historical landmark worth preserving, protesters say it is a racist depiction of Indigeneity that should have been removed decades ago.
“It is a black eye on the city, I think. It dehumanizes us, disrespects us, and it needs to go,” Homer Shadowheart, an Indigenous activist and comedian, told CityBeat. Shadowheart mentioned that he attempted to start a petition for the sign’s removal around 10 years ago but it was ignored.
“I call it a racist eye sore,” added Werner Lange, the director of the Ohio Peace Council and organizer of the protest, which was co-sponsored by the Urban Native Collective. “It has been poisoning the minds of thousands of motorists for decades. Time to end it.”
Lange started a petition on Change.org to remove the sign on Dec. 31, which has received 500 signatures.
“The community harbors the Underground Railroad, an anti-racist institution, it harbors the holocaust museum — and then they tolerate this racism? Blatant contradiction of the best traditions of the Queen City, it’s an embarrassment for the entire community,” Lange said.
The counter-protesters, who primarily consisted of local Carthage residents, shared differing opinions.
“Our family has been here for over 100 years. My grandpa taught me history off this [sign],” John Russell, a Carthage resident, told CityBeat. “Our little area right here is full of Native Americans, and they love it, so for people to come down from the north — that think this is being racist — all they have to do is turn their head and go the other way if they feel offended.”
“I’ve lived and grew up in the community, so I’ve been here for all my life,” said Robert McKinney, another counter-protester. “To us, the Indian sign is a landmark. I don’t see [sic] racism in it — it’s got no sayings on it or anything like that.” He goes on to add that he can empathize with those who might find it offensive, but encourages them to simply avoid passing the sign.
“In a statement, the owner said it was an iconic sign,” said Shadowheart. “Well, we’ve seen a lot of iconic things that were racist leave recently. The name of the old [football] team in Washington, which was a horrible racial slur, left, and it’s time this goes. We’re in 2024.”
The owner of MotorTime Auto Sales was not available to comment at the time of the protest.
Keep scrolling to see photos from the protest.
Photos by Aidan Mahoney
