Pioneers Statue Vandalized with Graffiti, Minneapolis

The Pioneers Statue in Northeast Minneapolis is shown vandalized with red paint and graffiti. Messages such as "Decolonize," "Land Back," and "All Colonizers Are Bastards" are visible on the monument. Erected to commemorate early settlers, the statue has become a focal point for protests challenging historical narratives of colonization and land ownership. This act of protest reflects ongoing discussions in Minneapolis and beyond regarding Indigenous land rights and the re-evaluation of public monuments that honor figures associated with colonial expansion.