In this episode of The Olympia Standard, we dive into the debate over who and what deserves a statue on Washington’s capitol campus. As the state grapples with the future of its Marcus Whitman monument, we explore the deeper meanings behind public memorials, the myths they enshrine, and the process (or lack thereof) for removing them. From the racist legacy embedded in the Whitman statue to the forgotten controversy over Governor John Rogers, we argue that it’s not only okay to take statues down, it’s sometimes the most historically honest thing we can do.