Christopher Columbus Statue Could Be Taken Down, Mayor Says

COLUMBUS CIRCLE, NY — During Wednesday night's Democratic primary debate Mayor Bill de Blasio said that his commission to study New York City's "symbols of hate" will study the statue of Christopher Colmbus that stands more than 70-feet-tall at the center of Columbus Circle.

De Blasio did not give his personal opinion on whether the statue of the Italian explorer should be removed or not. On Wednesday, a city hall spokesman told Patch "the commission will decide" whether the statue stays or goes. The mayor has yet to name individuals to serve on the 90-day commission.

A push to remove the statue of Columbus gained traction when de Blasio announced the creation of the 90-day commission. This week, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said that Columbus is a "controversial figure" who represents oppression and hate to indigenous people and people from the Caribbean.

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"When we look it history we have to look at it thoroughly and he is a controversial figure," Mark-Viverito said during a press conference this week. "I know some people may take offense to that but for many of us that come from the Caribbean islands, we see him as a controversial figure."

Protesters will rally in Columbus Circle Friday morning to demand the removal of the statue and all other Columbus monuments in New York City, according to a Facebook event.

Man have already pledged to fight on behalf of the Columbus statue. On Tuesday, State Assemblyman Ron Castorina was joined by members of the Order Sons of Italy in America to denounce calls to remove the statue, DNAinfo reported.

"What it suggests is the memory of the Italian-Americans that contributed to building this city, the very buildings that we engage in commerce in, that government sits in," the Staten Island assemblyman said. "Those Italian immigrants built this city, and that statue is a gift from them to the city."

During Wednesday night's debate Democratic challenger and former City Councilman Sal Albanese said that removing the Columbus statue would be going down a "slippery slope."

Watch the full New York 1 Democratic primary debate here.

Photo by Charley Lhasa via Flickr/Creative Commons