Counter-Petition To Save Columbus Statue Started In Scotch Plains

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Scotch Plains resident and candidate for Union County Freeholder, Joseph Sarno, has launched a counter-petition to preserve and protect the Columbus sculpture in Scotch Plains. Sarno's petition follows a petition launched last week to take down the sculpture in front of the municipal building and police department.

"When I first saw that petition I took note of the divisive language of taking it down immediately with no regard to the Italian people of Scotch Plains or Montazzoli who built the town in the turn of century," Sarno said.

Sarno's petition has more than 1,800 signatures as of Friday.

The sculpture was erected on Oct. 12, 1993 and made from three-tons of marble shipped from Italy before eventually making its way to Scotch Plains. Sarno notes that the design of the sculpture was done by Lennox Brown, an 18 year old African-American student from Union County Community College "who crafted the brilliant design of the world's sphere into the palm of a hand symbolizing how Columbus saw the world as round and defying logic 500 years ago that he'd sail off the edge of the planet."

Sarno is a member of UNICO — the largest Italian American Service Organization in the USA —and he and his family are Italian creating a personal connection to this cause.

"What [Columbus] symbolizes is a journey for our ancestors to be able to come here. He took a leap of faith," Sarno said. "It's not just Italian Americans, but all immigrants who make the journey... I understand the history against him and some of points about why he was so bad but you have to take a step back and think he had to have some kind of guts to just start sailing west."

Since the launch of the petitions, Scotch Plains Deputy Mayor Joshua Losardo has asked the council to host a discussion at the next council meeting at 7 p.m. July 21.

Losardo is inviting those who signed petition and wish to express their desire to remove it — as well as supporters of the monument and why it should stay — to speak at the meeting. The meeting will be virtual, and participants will be able to call in to share their opinions. A decision or vote on the removal of the statue is not anticipated at the meeting.

Sarno is not pleased with a virtual meeting and feels this type of discussion should be held in person.

"We shouldn't be having this debate unless it is in person," Sarno said. "It's not even a Zoom meeting, it's legitimately a phone call. That is not fair on either side."

To sign or learn more about Sarno's petition click here.

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