#ArchSoWhite? Watch 'First Inclusive' Arch Ribbon-Cutting

ST. LOUIS, MO — State Rep. Bruce Franks Jr. and other black leaders are planning their own ribbon-cutting event at the Gateway Arch today at noon after being left off the guest list at last week's grand opening.

St. Louis' population is about half black and the city has several prominent African-American leaders, from state representatives to city officials. That's why many found it perplexing and infuriating that none were invited to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

"The arch opened today. Many elected officials came and were part of the ceremony," said Farrakhan Shegog, who is running to be state representative in Missouri's 86th district. "But yet, not one black official was at this ribbon cutting. Not sure why, but it is shameful and an embarrassment."

St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson posted this photo, which prompted much of the reaction, to Twitter Tuesday:

The revamped @gatewayarchpark & museum are perfect examples of what we can accomplish when we work together - local, state & federal partners, private donors, & YOU the voters. City & County voters came together to create this amazing attraction for our region. Thank you! pic.twitter.com/QBGeYrEtUo
— Mayor Lyda Krewson (@LydaKrewson) July 3, 2018

Shegog pointed out that a black legislator — Franks — represents the district that contains the Arch, and that the city of St. Louis has a black congressman, public safety director, police chief, circuit attorney, city comptroller, and board of aldermen president. None were present at the ribbon-cutting.

Officials who were present include Missouri Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt, the state's new governor, Mike Parson, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Rep. Ann Wagner, as well as St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson and County Executive Steve Stenger — all white.

The ribbon-cutting with African-American leaders is scheduled for Friday at noon at the arch grounds. "You can't have an event of this magnitude with no black representation! #Period," Franks wrote on the event's Facebook page. "So we will make it right."

Franks planned the second ribbon cutting and also started the #ArchSoWhite hashtag that's currently trending on Twitter:

I’m glad to see the Arch Grounds reopened. But this? This is not my hometown.

An all white ribbon cutting? In @brucefranksjr’s district? With money @tishaura helped find? Where the modern civil rights movement was reborn in #Ferguson?

This is not progress. #ArchSoWhite https://t.co/wHZ3xrYWkh
— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) July 3, 2018

That said, the groundbreaking ceremony and photos for #GatewayArch look totally different than today’s photo. It’s eerily similar to the grand opening in 1965, it rained that day too. #ArchSoWhite pic.twitter.com/wxIx1PQDyo
— Tishaura O. Jones (@tishaura) July 4, 2018

This photo shows more than the day it was taken.
It shows decades of inequality and racism, past and present, that led to most of our leaders being white.
It shows celebration of a piece of land with a terrible history.
We must do better to represent ALL our people.#ArchSoWhite https://t.co/NhXroPzWWa
— Sarah Unsicker (@SarahUnsicker) July 4, 2018

Others have pointed out that the issue goes far beyond a picture. St. Louis' riverfront was once home to a thriving community with a large African-American population. After the Gateway Arch was built, that population was largely displaced into more segregated neighborhoods. That's a trend that has repeated itself over and over again, both in St. Louis and St. Louis County.

The organizers of the event have now apologized for the lack of representation, writing on Facebook: "We acknowledge that our ribbon cutting did not reflect the diversity of our community. For that and for any hurt it caused we are sorry."

Photo: St. Louis' Old Courthouse, framed by the Gateway Arch, was the site of the infamous Dred Scott Decision, that ruled black Americans were not U.S. Citizens. (Gateway Arch National Park)