Editorial: Serra’s statue in the US Capitol should be replaced with someone who represents California today

For all the statues of Father Junípero Serra that have been removed from public places, one of the most prominent figures of him remains: a bronze statue of the chief architect of the California mission movement, holding a cross aloft, in the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol, where it has represented the state since 1931.

Each state is allowed to send two statues to the Capitol building, honoring esteemed residents of its past. The subjects of this art collection are an eclectic bunch, including names that aren’t famous outside their respective states, and perhaps not even within it, as well as such easily recognizable people as Ronald Reagan (California’s