A city in California is reexamining whether it wants to make alterations to its city logo, which includes a depiction of a noose.
The city council in Placerville, formerly known as Hangtown, will meet Tuesday to consider public input as it debates changing its insignia to exclude the noose.
The council began discussing a potential redesign of the city’s logo in July 2020 and considered removing the depiction of the noose from the logo, a symbol pointing back to its reputation during the Gold Rush, though a proposed redesigned logo was rejected.
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Council members reignited discussions in January and determined in a February meeting that the public should be afforded an opportunity to weigh in on any decision to scrap the old logo.
Placerville was given the name “Hangtown” during the Gold Rush era after numerous hangings were carried out using “a giant white oak in the corner of hay yard near the center of town,” according to the city website.
“Today, only the tree stump remains, hidden in the cellar of a bar on Main Street in Placerville named — quite aptly — The Hangman’s Tree,” the site stated.
The Hangman’s Tree is a state historical landmark situated in downtown Placerville across from City Hall.
A report from City Manager Cleve Morris detailed four potential options for the city to take. It may direct staff to remove the depiction of the noose from the city’s logo and other facilities, make no changes to the logo, direct staff to develop costs and a program to redesign the logo, or develop a fourth option.
The report also described some examples of former city logos that did not bear the noose, including one used by the Placerville Police Department.
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The Washington Examiner reached out to Vice Mayor Kara Taylor about her expectations of Tuesday’s meeting but did not immediately receive a response.
