Petition To Take Down Columbus Statue Launched In Scotch Plains

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — Longtime Scotch Plains resident George Ulerio has started a petition to take down the statue of Christopher Columbus' hand in front of the municipal building and police department.

"We, as taxpayers of a town that is supposed to promote diversity and equality, demand that the statue be removed immediately as it promotes an atmosphere of white supremacy, imperialism, genocide, racism, and rape. Having a statue in front of the most notable building in town only perpetuates these ideas of racism and white supremacy that exist currently within our own town and this country," Ulerio said on his petition website.

Ulerio, who is half Puerto Rican and half Dominican, finds this cause is close to his heart as he is a descendant of the Taíno, who were an indigenous people of the Caribbean.

"I have dedicated myself to being an activist of racial injustice and things I and other Black Indigenous people of color experience every day," Ulerio said. "Once I found out about the statue and his documented many atrocious acts to the Taíno people and across all of the Caribbean, I didn't think it was acceptable."

Ulerio launched the petition Friday, and it has more than 1,800 signatures.

"We need some type of solution. We cannot be celebrating and honoring people in a way that is a detriment to another culture," Ulerio said.

A counter-petition has since been launched to preserve and protect the Columbus sculpture in Scotch Plains. Read More: Counter Petition To Save Columbus Statue Started In Scotch Plains

The number of signatures has drawn the attention of Scotch Plains Deputy Mayor Joshua Losardo, who 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.

"I just thought it was important to hear why so many people ... feel as they do," Losardo said. "I think I was surprised by how many people signed that petition and not sure if it’s the right thing to do right now. My mindset is just that it is appropriate to hear from both sides."

Protesters nationally have called for the removal of statues honoring the Italian explorer who is held responsible for killing and exploiting native peoples of the Americas.

In New Jersey, there has been much discussion on this topic.

In Trenton, the Christopher Columbus statue will be removed and Columbus Park will be renamed. Read More: Trenton Will Remove Christopher Columbus Statue, Mayor Says

A Parsippany student has started a petition to remove a statue of Christopher Columbus from in front of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Municipal Building. Read More: Battle To Remove Christopher Columbus Statue In Parsippany

West Orange will remove a monument to Christopher Columbus from a local intersection because it is "divisive" and a "symbol of hate and oppression," Mayor Robert Parisi said. Read More: West Orange To Remove Columbus Monument Amid Fierce Debate

For more information on the petition click here.

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