Town Officials Urge Mayor To Send Christopher Columbus Statue To Massapequa If Removed

MASSAPEQUA, NY – Two weeks before Columbus Day, Oyster Bay town officials along with several Italian-Americans from the local organizations gather to call on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and other mayors around the nation to not remove their statutes of Christopher Columbus or send them to Massapequa.

Last month, de Blasio said that his commission to study New York City's "symbols of hate" will study the statue of Christopher Columbus that stands more than 70-feet-tall at the center of Columbus Circle.

A push to remove the statue of Columbus gained traction when de Blasio announced the creation of the 90-day commission.

“If these radical mayors make the decision to remove Christopher Columbus statues, we will take them and display them proudly in Massapequa - home to one of the largest Italian-American populations in the nation,” Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. “Make no mistake, Christopher Columbus’ iconic statue in New York City’s Columbus Circle belongs right where it is. However, I am more than proud to welcome this or any Columbus statue to the Massapequa Triangle - the heart of our hamlet.”

Saladino along with other officials and the local chapter of the Order Sons of Italy made the announcement as part of the "Save Christopher Columbus" initiative. In addition, they have started a petition to save the statues.

“I think most of us are tired those trying to rewrite history,” Saladino said. “It’s obvious Christopher Columbus had an enormous effect on the historical development of the Western World, and this can’t be denied, no matter how much they’d like it to be. Enough is enough of this political correctness gone awry.”

According to Councilman Lou Imbroto, several people have already signed the petition.

“We sincerely believe that it sends a strong message that the public is tired of American history being re-interpreted," he said. "Attempts to remove or deface statues of Christopher Columbus are an affront to all Americans, but particularly Italian-Americans, who are justly proud of their rich heritage. We can’t just sit by idly and allow this to go unchallenged.”

Some disagree, like City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito who said that Columbus is a "controversial figure" who represents oppression and hate to indigenous people and people from the Caribbean.

Earlier this month, a statue of Columbus in Central Park was found with the words "hate will not be tolerated" were spray painted onto the base of the statue and Columbus' hands were painted red.

The words "#Somethingiscoming" were also painted onto the base of the statue, according to photos of the vandalism.