Activists Not Backing Plan To Fix Gravestones Slur

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- The leading advocate of removing a racial slur from the headstones marking 36 Gold Rush-era graves is refusing to support a proposal from a state agency to do just that.

Michael Harris said Thursday he is not opposing the plan from the California Prison Industry Authority, which has offered to replace the markers. But he said he wants to see something in writing and also wants much more.

During a news conference in Sacramento, Harris said he wants to restore a state landmark commemorating the pioneers from Negro Hill and establish a monument explaining they were wrongfully identified with the slur.

In 1954, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moved the graves near Folsom to make way for a reservoir and gave them new gravestones emblazoned with the derogatory term.

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