Famous Columbus Circle Statue Vandalized, Police Say

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Another Christopher Columbus statue – this time the famous one that towers above Columbus Circle – has been vandalized, police said.

Daniel Kimery, 39, was caught painting pink nail polish on the statue's left hand around 10 p.m. Saturday night around 10 p.m., the New York Post first reporter. It's unknown how he managed to reach the statue, which stands on a pedestal many feet above ground level.

Kimery said the pink nail polish represented "the blood on the Italian explorer's hands," according to police sources that spoke to the Post. Police told Patch officers saw Kimery vandalizing the statue and he was "apprehended without any incident."

Last month, Mayor Bill de Blasio said it was possible that the statue at Columbus Circle could be removed after being studied by a commission set up to study the City's "symbols of hate."

Earlier this month, the Columbus statue in Central Park was vandalized with the words "hate will not be tolerated" spray painted on its base.

The Central Park statue's vandalism included red paint on Columbus' hands.

The Post reported that Kimerly is homeless and has a history of arrests. He has "charges of public consumption, being in the park after hours, criminal trespassing, smoking pot and assault," according to the newspaper.

Kimery was charged with criminal mischief, making graffiti and possession of graffiti instruments, police said.

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