The Village Seal of Whitesboro

The village of Whitesboro is located in upstate New York. It was founded in 1788 by Hugh White. The village seal depicts "a friendly wrestling match that helped foster good relations between White and the Indians." It was created in 1963 by local artist George E. Pugh to commemmorate the Village's Sesquicentennial.

Unfortunately, some people think the seal looks more like Hugh White choking an Indian. In fact, in 1977 a complaint was filed with the Village Board arguing that the seal "demeans, disgraces and creates prejudice and distrust of Indian people." The Village was asked to stop displaying the seal. However, the villagers felt that the wrestling match was an important event in the history of their town, so instead they redesigned the seal so that Hugh White's hands were placed on the Indian's shoulders and not so close to his neck.

What you're seeing in the image below is apparently the redesigned seal that to this day appears on many of their municipal vehicles. If it still looks to you like White is choking the guy, that's obviously your own violent mind interpreting the image in that way. Anyone can see it's just a friendly sporting match! (Thanks to Ted Seaman for the contribution.)