Gov. Cuomo Vows To Protect Columbus Circle Statue: Reports

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has forcefully asserted himself into a debate revolving around the future of a 70-foot statue of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in Columbus Circle by saying that the statue will stand as long as he's in office, according to multiple reports.

Cuomo voiced his support for the statue — which some city officials say should be removed — during a weekend gala for the Columbus Citizens Foundation and again at Monday's Columbus Day Parade.

"As long as I am governor of the great State of New York, there will be a statue of Christopher Columbus standing tall and proud in the city of New York," Cuomo said at the gala, as reported by the Daily News.

Cuomo — who is Italian-American — said that the statue of Columbus is representative of pride in Italian-American heritage, and that attacks against the statue are attacks against that heritage, the Daily News reported.

Also See: Calls To Replace Columbus Day Are Gaining Momentum

"Many, many of our statues in this country of men and women are memorialized not as a statement of their individual perfection, but for the cause, the ideals, the heritage they represent," Cuomo said, according to reports.

Cuomo's strong public support of the statue is the latest in an ongoing game of one-upmanship between the governor and Mayor Bill de Blasio. The mayor has not publicly stated whether he personally believes whether the statue should stay or be removed, but did acknowledge that a city commission on New York's "symbols of hate" would study the monument. The perceived lack of support for Columbus resulted in the mayor being booed during Monday's Columbus Day Parade.

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

"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."

Read the full Daily News article here.

Photo courtesy Gov. Andrew Cuomo