Bending the Arc references a quote by Rev. Dr. King who said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This digital newsletter from the CSA Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation office showcases the work of changemakers, opportunities to learn, and opportunities for you to help “bend the arc” toward justice. Full contents of the newsletter are published on this page.
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Reconciling Racist and Derogatory Names Across The Country
July 11, 2025
The Reconciliation in Place Names Committee was established by U.S. Secretary of Interior, Deb Haaland, in 2021. Haaland was the first Native American person to serve in the role, which oversees the nation’s public lands and Bureau of Indian Affairs. The committee was tasked to remove racist names from landmarks.
Unfortunately, the committee was dismantled earlier this year.
During her time as Secretary of Interior, Haaland signed an order to remove the derogatory name “squ*w” from place names in the country under the U.S. Geological Survey. In Wisconsin, that meant 28 places using that racial slur, used to describe female Indigenous people, were changed in 2022.
Read the rest of this story from Frank Vaisvilas, the Indigenous affairs reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
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Equity & Human Dignity