As the protests against racism instigated by the death of George Floyd continue to rage throughout the US, two statues of Christopher Columbus have been taken down by the city officials.
Last week, protestors and police had clashed over the statues.
The two statues were taken down in the very early morning, merely hours after Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered the statues be taken down. One was erected in Grant Park, while another used to stand in Arrigo Park in the Little Italy of the Windy City.
The controversy and reevaluation of Columbus is not restricted to Chicago. Around the US, some say that the Italian explorer is a symbol of the imperialistic times and slavery while others argue that Columbus is a vital aspect of American, particularly Italian American heritage.
According to NBC Chicago, Mayor Lightfoot has ordered city officials to “take into inventory” anything that has a tinge of history. This refers to everything from statues to smaller paintings that may be controversial to some.
The mayor, who herself is an African-American woman, pointed out how there is not a single statue is dedicated to African Americans or women. Lightfoot said the minorities have been criminally underrepresented despite their important roles in the history of Chicago.
Her solemn and unequivocal tone was in direct contrast to her own messaging just a month before. In June, the mayor acknowledged the historical controversy surrounding Columbus but also added that students should be allowed to learn the full extent of history.
Last week, more than 50 police officers and protestors were injured as they struggled over the preservation of the statue. More than 10 people were put under arrest during this process.
In an interview with the local press, one Chicago resident remarked that the removal of the statue was thanks to the tireless work of the activists who tried to correct the narrative told about the city’s history.
However, the removal of the statues does not seem to be the end-all solution to the extremely complicated issue of race in the city. After Lightfoot agreed with President Trump in allowing 200 federal agents into the city, protestors surrounded the mayor’s house and called for the defunding of police.
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Replaced!