Hiram Johnson Native American mural to be removed with ‘least amount of disruption’
Sacramento City Unified plans to remove a controversial mural at Hiram Johnson High School “in a timely fashion,” weeks after trustees pushed for its removal, according to a district spokesperson.
The move follows criticism from Native students, led by The Met Sacramento High School junior Lozen Miranda-Brightman and other community members, who called the school gym mural discriminatory and presented a petition urging the district to remove it along with other Native American-themed symbols across campus.
“Our Facilities Department has direction from the Board of Education to remove this mural, and staff are making arrangements to do that in a timely fashion with the least amount of disruption to campus operations,” wrote district spokesman Al Goldberg in an email Tuesday.
State deadline and mural
Under Assembly Bill 3074, enacted in 2024, most California public schools are barred from continuing to use Native American-related names, mascots or nicknames considered derogatory after July 1, 2026. The law, however, also states that if a prohibited name or mascot is already on a facility feature, it must be removed by the next time that feature is replaced during routine maintenance.
For the Hiram Johnson Warriors, that mandate has put new focus on the gym mural featuring a stereotypical depiction of a Native American.
The mural is one of numerous images across campus that feature Native American themes. The school’s recently rebuilt football field features an arrow with a feather, symbolism that also appears on team uniforms.
The district’s facilities director said could cost about $250,000 to change the school’s team uniforms, school merchandise and campus signage.
Goldberg wrote that SCUSD is “committed to creating campus identities that will unite all of our students,” while pointing to the district’s April 30 board meeting, where Board President Tara Jeane directed staff to remove the mural as the district works to comply with state law.
Beyond the mural, SCUSD trustee Taylor Kayatta said he was not sure how the board’s direction would apply.
“Staff’s going to do an inventory themselves and likely seek direction from the superintendent and possibly the board on where we want to go,” Kayatta said.
Principal apologizes after criticism
Hiram Johnson principal Garrett Kirkland faced pushback from students and other local school administrators — including Jessica Martin at Sacramento New Technology Early College High School and LuTisha McGregor at Umoja International Academy — after a Sacramento Bee story included his comments defending the mural.
“I don’t see anything offensive when I see this,” Kirkland said earlier this month. “I see pride. I think of Warriors, and I think of pride, and I have students and alumni for years who say they see it the same way.”
He also said he has not fielded any complaints by any students or teachers in his nine years on campus.
Weeks later, at a May 21 board meeting, Kirkland apologized to Native students and community members, saying he did not mean to oppose student and Native American advocacy and efforts.
“I understand that my comments clearly came across as a protest. I’m sorry for how that looked, and I’m sorry for how that felt.”
The discipline question
Kayatta initially wrote in a since-edited Facebook post that he had asked the superintendent to address Kirkland’s comments to The Bee, saying disciplinary action was “not only appropriate but necessary” for the students and communities affected by his remarks made on the district’s property.
Kirkland’s remarks were a “direct contradiction” to the board’s direction and AB 3074, Kayatta said.
Kayatta later replied to another user who raised concerns that his comment could limit free speech, saying he strongly believes in the First Amendment and would not interfere with that right.
“I removed that part from my post just because I thought it was a distraction, because ultimately the issue is whether direction is understood and whether action is being taken consistent with community expectations on this topic,” Kayatta told The Bee.
“I don’t necessarily think he should be disciplined. I just think that the way he handled this is something that I would be curious as to whether discipline was appropriate.”
Kirkland is president of the United Professional Educators union, which represents administrators in the school district, and has publicly criticized the board’s budget-cutting decisions that would have affected administrators and nonteaching staff.
When asked whether the district plans to discipline Kirkland, Goldberg said the district does not comment on personnel matters.
