Newsom Signs Name Change For NorCal School Founded By Racist Figure

CALIFORNIA — Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law on Friday that will change the name of a California school, which was named for a 19th century rancher and former chief justice of the California Supreme Court who participated in deadly acts against Native Americans.

Now, the University of California's Hastings College of the Law will be called the College of the Law. San Francisco. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former San Francisco Mayor Willie Browne are both graduates of the Bay Area school.

Serranus Clinton Hastings founded the campus in 1878 and helped propel finance campaigns by white settlers in Mendocino County. Settlers enslaved and killed members of the Yuki Indian tribe.

Related: Bill To Rename Hastings Belongs Back At The Drawing Board

The bill also lays the groundwork for the college to rename the law library with a Native name, according a statement from Newsom's office.

The school also plans to annual read a statement of the atrocities Hastings committed against the Yuki tribe and provide collaborate opportunities for Round Valley tribal students to gain debate and writing experience.

Assembly Bill 1936, authored by Assemblymember James Ramos, is meant to advance "restorative justice efforts for Round Valley Indian Tribes and Yuki people whose ancestors suffered mass killings and other atrocities funded and supported by college founder Serranus Hastings in the mid-19th century."

Newsom approved the change and signed off on a suite of new bills concerning indigenous people.

“As we lift up the rich history and contributions of California’s diverse tribal communities today, the state recommits to building on the strides we have made to redress historical wrongs and help empower Native communities,” said Governor Newsom.

Another bill, AB 1314, will allow the California High Patrol to activate an emergency Feather Alert to find a Native person who has been reported missing under suspicious circumstances, similar to an Amber or Silver alert.