Statue Of Slave Owner Removed In Baltimore's O'Donnell Square

BALTIMORE, MD — The statue of slave owner Captain John O'Donnell was removed from Canton Square this week, which Baltimore's mayor says is critical to promoting equity in the city.

"Tonight, the hostile vestige to the notorious enslaver Captain John O’Donnell no longer stands in Canton Square," Mayor Brandon Scott said in a statement Monday night upon the statue's removal.

"This is a historical moment, however — countless publicly named monuments, statues, streets, and schools across Baltimore remain that must be reassessed," Scott said.

"I am committed to dismantling structural oppression in Baltimore by working with the City Administrator to commission a team to establish procedures for reviewing the impact of these cruel monuments while continuing to promote equitable policies to right yesterday’s wrongs," Scott added. "Thanks to the Canton Anti-Racism Alliance for their persistence on this effort and continuous work on building an inclusive Baltimore."

Watch the removal of the statue, captured on video by the Canton Community Association, which advocated for the statue's removal.