Los Angeles La Plaza statement: Halt to desecrating remains

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON THE HALT OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION AT LA PLAZA DE CULTURA Y ARTES

LOS ANGELES (Jan. 14, 2011) – Miguel Angel Corzo, President and CEO of LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, issued the following statement today:

“We at LA Plaza have decided to halt work on the former camposanto area of our campus indefinitely, in light of the unexpected number of human remains uncovered and their great historical significance. From the moment we discovered human remains on our site, we have conducted the necessary archaeological excavation in strict accordance with the law, all professional archaeological and osteological standards, and in communication with the Los Angeles Archdiocese, the Native American Heritage Commission, and the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner. At this time, however, we believe it is in the best interest of both LA Plaza and the larger community to put this section of our project on hold. Moving forward, we will continue to work with all interested parties and proceed with the rest of our construction as planned. We believe this discovery and the resulting conversations will engender further education about the rich and complex history of Los Angeles, a history we are committed to exploring here at LA Plaza.”
Media contact: Katie Dunham
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
213.542.6233
kdunham@lapca.org