NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday that he doesn't want the statue of Christopher Columbus in Manhattan removed, days after a similar statue in Boston was beheaded by protesters.
The statue, which stands at the center of Columbus Circle, has been condemned repeatedly over the years, with critics saying the 15th century explorer started generations of indigenous slavery and genocide. But many Italian-American leaders have voiced their support for the statue, as well as Columbus Day, which draws a large parade in the city each year.
“I understand the dialogue that’s been going on for a number of years,” Cuomo said at his daily briefing Thursday after a reporter asked if the statue should be removed.
“The Christopher Columbus statue represents in some ways the Italian-American legacy in this country and the Italian-American contribution in this country,” added Cuomo, who is an Italian-American.
“I understand the feelings about Christopher Columbus and some of his acts, which nobody would support,” the governor continued. “But the statue has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian-American contribution to New York. So, for that reason, I support it.”
There’s been a renewed interest in removing statues of controversial figures across the country in recent weeks amid ongoing protests over racism in America sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
A statue of Christopher Columbus was beheaded in Boston earlier this week. Another statue of Columbus was toppled and thrown in a lake in Richmond.
Protesters have torn down Confederate statues across the South, and on Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for the removal of Confederate symbols from the Capitol in Washington, D.C.