The University of Missouri is studying how best to put into context the life of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson. | MorgueFile - kconnors
The University of Missouri is studying how best to put into context the life of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson. | MorgueFile - kconnors
A 20-year-old University of Missouri student was arrested earlier this month in connection with graffiti discovered near a statue of Thomas Jefferson on the campus of the university. Authorities discovered the graffiti June 21 and would only say that it happened during a call to have the statue removed.
The statue is on the Francis Quadrangle on campus, and police say that Ian M. Laird was responsible for graffiti on the sidewalk near the statue. Laird was issued a citation July 7 to appear on a single Class B misdemeanor charge of second-degree property damage, according to a news release from the MU Police Department. The case has been referred to Boone County’s prosecutor and the university’s Office of Student Accountability and Support.
University officials have rejected the argument of critics who say that Jefferson’s statue should be removed because the Founding Father was a slaveowner. Instead of removing the statue, the university is examining how best to proceed in putting the life of Jefferson into the proper context, including his roles as the co-author of the Declaration of Independence, the country’s third president and as a slaveowner.
This is not the first time the statue has come under public scrutiny. ABC 17 News reported there was a push to remove the statue from campus after issues of race came up in fall 2015. In early June, university officials again rejected calls to remove the statue, including a petition that made the rounds.
According to an incident report obtained by ABC 17 News, the graffiti read “Say her name, Sally Hemings” and was spray painted on the ground in front of the statue. Historians believe Hemings, one of Jefferson's slaves, also was the mother of several of his children.
KOMU.com reported that another individual, University of Missouri graduate Rachel Foster, also was arrested for tampering with the statue July 12. Foster graduated in 2020 and was also given a citation to appear in court to answer for her actions.
Laird did not respond to requests for comment.
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