Chicago mayor caves to mob and removes Christopher Columbus statues

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered that two statues of Christopher Columbus be taken down after protesters attempting to knock down one of the monuments became violent with members of law enforcement last week

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered that two statues of Christopher Columbus be removed after rioters attempting to tear down one of the monuments clashed with law enforcement last week, according to Global News.

The outlet reported the first of the two statues was removed around 3 a.m. in Grant Park early Friday morning using a large crane. The second was successfully taken down around 5:30 a.m. from Chicago's Little Italy neighbourhood of Arrigo Park.

Steve Cortes took to Twitter in response to Lightfoot's decision, tweeting: "My Chicago Police sources confirm that our magnificent Christopher Columbus statue will be removed tonight from Grant Park, in the dead of night. Our feckless mayor concedes to the violent nihilists."

Lightfoot's office released a statement shortly after the removal of the statues, saying that they were only being "temporarily removed ... until further notice," adding that the action was taken in response "to demonstrations that became unsafe for both protesters and police, as well as efforts by individuals to independently pull the Grant Park statue down in an extremely dangerous manner," a statement read.

“This step is about an effort to protect public safety and to preserve a safe space for an inclusive and democratic public dialogue about our city’s symbols,” the statement continued, saying that the statue's removal came after a "consultation with various stakeholders."

“This statue coming down is because of the effort of Black and Indigenous activists who know the true history of Columbus and what he represents,” Stefan Cuevas-Caizaguano said, according to Global News.

A number of Christopher Columbus statues have been vandalized and destroyed amid the death of George Floyd, with many arguing that statues of historical figures are symbols of genocide and slavery.

"The Italian American community feels betrayed," Pasquale Gianni, of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, said. "The Mayor’s Office is giving into a vocal and destructive minority. This is not how the Democratic process is supposed to work."

Lightfoot's statement added that the city plans to "assess each of the monuments, memorials, and murals across Chicago’s communities, and develop a framework for creating a public dialogue to determine how we elevate our city’s history and diversity."

The statue's removal comes as President Donald Trump and Lightfoot have agreed to deploy federal officers to the city following a surge in gun violence that has resulted in a significant number of injuries.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Join and support independent free thinkers!

We’re independent and can’t be cancelled. The establishment media is increasingly dedicated to divisive cancel culture, corporate wokeism, and political correctness, all while covering up corruption from the corridors of power. The need for fact-based journalism and thoughtful analysis has never been greater. When you support The Post Millennial, you support freedom of the press at a time when it's under direct attack. Join the ranks of independent, free thinkers by supporting us today for as little as $1.

Support The Post Millennial

Remind me next month

To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 The Post Millennial, Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Personal Information