In our Summer 2024 issue we asked our readers to consider whether the monuments to John Mason in the Connecticut capitol and in Windsor should remain displayed where they are. We offered an overview by Dr. David Naumec; opinion pieces by Dr. Marie Basile McDaniel of Southern Connecticut University, Joshua David Carter of the Mashantucket Pequot, and Mitchel Ray of the Eastern Pequot; and public hearing testimony  from the State Historian emeritus, Dr. Walter Woodward, and Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

We received 20 responses as of August 6, 2024. Of those who responded, 10 were women and 10 were men. • Five had some college or a technical degree; four had bachelor’s degrees; eleven had graduate degrees.  • Fifteen of our respondents were white; three identified as two or more races or ethnicities (and of these one as Native; another as Hispanic and white) ; two as Native American/American Indian or Alaska Native; one Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; and one Hispanic or Latino/Latina. • Ten were over 70 years old; six were 60-69; one was 50-59 and one 40-49; two were 30-39. (Note: for race and ethnicity there were 22 responses because two people answered in two categories.)

Question 1: I read the John Mason overview, the three essays, and the testimonies.

Thirteen people strongly agreed and five agreed that they read all of the John Mason section thoroughly, while two were neutral. That was generally where the agreement ended.

Question 2: Historical monuments should reflect the times in which we live.

Answers: Five people disagreed with this statement, and another two strongly disagreed. Women with graduate degrees outnumbered men in this group. The two who identified as Native American/American Indian or Alaska Native both disagreed, as did one who identified as two or more races or ethnicities. • Six were neutral. • Five agreed with the statement, and two strongly agreed. Men outnumbered women 3:2 among those who agreed and were evenly split in the strongly agreed category. All who agreed or strongly agreed were 60 or older except one, who was 30-39. The number who disagreed was the same as the number who agreed–an even split–but six people didn’t answer one way or another.

Question 3: Once erected, historical monuments should be preserved.

Only three people strongly agreed with this statement, but nine agreed for a total of 12 in support of preserving the monuments. • Four were neutral. • One strongly disagreed and three others disagreed.

Question 4: John Mason is worthy of an historical monument.

Four people agreed and two more strongly agreed with the statement for a total of six in agreement. • Five people were neutral about this question (4 women and one man; one Native American, one who was two or more races, and then three white people). •  Six disagreed and another strongly disagreed for a total of seven in disagreement. Five were men and one was a woman. All were white except one person who was of two or more races or ethnicities.

Question 5: The John Mason statue on the Connecticut State Capitol building should remain where it is.

Five strongly agreed and two agreed. • Four were neutral on this subject. • Four strongly disagreed and five disagreed. • In total 9 people felt strongly, whether for or against. Nine disagreed, against seven who agreed.

Question 6: The John Mason statue on the Connecticut State Capitol building should be moved to a museum or historical site.

Seven strongly agreed and five agreed with this statement for a total of 12 in agreement. • Only two were neutral on this question. • Three strongly disagreed and three disagreed for a total of six in disgreement. Half of respondents felt strongly on this subject, and there was little neutrality.

Question 7: The John Mason statue on the Windsor town green should remain where it is.

Six people agreed, and only one strongly agreed, for a total of 7 in agreement. Six people were neutral, perhaps indicating the statue at the capitol may carry more significance, or that Mason’s presence in Windsor is seen as less controversial. Five disagreed, and two strongly disagreed for a total of 7 in disagreement. This question had results numerically similar to question 2, but individuals did not answer the same way in each question.

Question 8: The John Mason statue on the Windsor town green should be moved to a museum or historical site.

Five people strong agreed and three agreed, for a total of 8 in agreement. Five people were neutral. Many of the people who agreed with the previous statement disagreed with this statement and vice versa. Three strongly disagreed and four disagreed for a total of 7 in disagreement.  But in Question 7 there were only three people who responded strongly, whereas in this question 8 people felt strongly one way or another.

Question 9: The John Mason statues should be removed and it does not matter where they go.

One strongly agreed and three agreed for a total of four in agreement. Four were neutral. Seven strongly disagreed and five disagreed with the statement for a total of 12 in disagreement. Of those who strongly disagreed, one was Native Hawaiian, one Native American, and two were of two or more races or ethnicities. Of the 8 who felt strongly one way or another, only one was under 60. In this sample, people overwhelmingly felt the Mason statutes should not destroyed or simply stored in a warehouse.

Question 10: A statue to Connecticut’s Indigenous tribes should be added to the Connecticut Capitol grounds.

Not a single person disagreed with this statement. Thirteen strongly agreed and seven agreed.

Question 11: Maintaining a statue of John Mason on the Capitol grounds and adding a statue honoring Indigenous people would create a good balance.

While everyone agreed a statue to Indigneous people should be erected, balance was also an issue for some people. Seven people strongly agreed and seven agreed with the statement for a total of 14 in agreement. Four people were neutral. Only two disagreed.