Huntington Beach’s Central Library is turning 50 this year, and city leaders will commemorate the occasion by installing a controversial plaque that includes a variation of the phrase “Make America Great Again.”
The plaque, meant to commemorate the 50th anniversary this year of the Huntington Beach Central Library’s opening, has at the bottom the words “Magical,” “Alluring,” “Galvanizing,” and “Adventurous” next to each other to spell out the acronym “MAGA.”
Below that, it says, “Through hope and change our nation has built back better to the golden era of Making America Great Again!”
“Hope and change” and “build back better” were slogans for former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, respectively.
The plaque received unanimous approval Tuesday night, Feb. 18, from the City Council.
The plaque has a new design from what was first proposed. The changes include new eagle artwork, moving the “MAGA” acronym that is spelled out to the bottom, and adding the “Making America Great Again” phrase. Councilmember Gracey Van Der Mark submitted the new design.
Residents who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting called the plaque “tacky” and said it was politicizing the library.
When the item came up, Van Der Mark brought out a large poster board with the plaque’s new design. Van Der Mark said due to threats of vandalism made online about the plaque, the council raised an extra $1,000 to pay for a spotlight installation to help protect the plaque.
“MAGA” is short for President Donald Trump‘s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
Council members said the plaque had been paid for by private donations.
The plaque is planned to be placed outside the library’s entrance and will be paired with a dedication ceremony to commemorate its installation, according to a city staff report recommending its approval. It also says, “Commemorating 50 years of being a beacon of education, a catalyst for dreams, and a sanctuary for children to feel safe, valued, and free to grow,” along with the names of the current Council members.
In December, all seven members of the City Council stood up at the end of a meeting and posed for photos while wearing red MAGA-inspired “Make Huntington Beach Great Again” hats.
The city’s Community and Library Services Commission approved the plaque’s design at its Feb. 11 meeting, which moved it forward to the City Council for final approval. That design had the “MAGA” acronym in the plaque’s center.