City of Columbus to remove Christopher Columbus statue outside City Hall

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced Thursday that the Christopher Columbus statue on the West Broad Street side of City Hall will be removed as soon as possible and placed in storage.

The Columbus Art Commission has been charged to lead an effort to replace the statue with public artwork that better reflects the people of Columbus and offers a shared vision for the future, shared Ginther.

“For many people in our community, the statue represents patriarchy, oppression and divisiveness. That does not represent our great city, and we will no longer live in the shadow of our ugly past,” said Ginther. “Now is the right time to replace this statue with artwork that demonstrates our enduring fight to end racism and celebrate the themes of diversity and inclusion.”

The statue was one of several across Columbus targeted by vandals in the past few days.

The Arts Commission will also work to ensure future generations better understand how the statue played into America's ongoing and evolving conversation around race and equity, and why it was ultimately removed, said Ginther.

“By replacing the statue, we are removing one more barrier to meaningful and lasting change to end systemic racism,” said Ginther. “Its removal will allow us to remain focused on critical police reforms and increasing equity in housing, health outcomes, education and employment.”

Columbus City Council released the following statement Thursday afternoon:

"Columbus City Council is focused on eradicating systemic racism, police misconduct and social injustice through every means possible. While that is our daily focus, we also hear the raised voices in the streets regarding this monument to Christopher Columbus. Removal and replacement of the statue will not feed families or end racism. We understand this statue is also a symbol of oppression and enslavement. We support it moving and will work with residents to ensure that new public art at this site and memorials all around our city celebrate the best of us, our cultures and our dreams for the city we are working to build together."

The Christopher Columbus statue was a gift from Columbus' sister city, Genoa, Italy, in 1955. In addition to the removal of the statue, the city also asked the commission to reimagine other symbols associated with the City, including the seal and flag, and to make recommendations for change.

"We would also like to express our sincere respect and thanks to the people of our sister city Genoa, Italy, who gifted the piece in 1955. We will work together to keep the shared spirit of friendship and culture alive as we consider how best to use this historical figure to educate future generations," the statement from city council said.

The Columbus Piave Club released the following statement regarding the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue:

"We as an Italian Community (Columbus Italian Club and Abruzzi Club included) have been COMPLETELY locked out of this conversation and completely ignored considering we facilitated the statue’s acquisition, delivery, and dedication in 1955. Furthermore, considering that we celebrate the anniversary of its unveiling every year on the site since 1955 and are not even given the courtesy of a mention in the press release of its removal?

Over the decades our Italian community has donated thousands of dollars for its upkeep and promotion only to be denied the dignity of inclusion in its demise. From an administration that preaches inclusion and diversity, we as a community find this extremely ironic. Columbus Day is about celebrating Italian Americans and positive achievements that Italians contribute to our society. If we can somehow contribute by respecting other's points of view then we should do just that. Although all should be judged based on facts, not panic and rioting.

The culture of mob rule is not the answer and it never will be. We find particular offense in the Mayor’s following unintelligible, insulting, and incendiary rhetoric from his press release: 'the statue represents patriarchy, oppression and divisiveness. We will no longer live in the shadow of our ugly past. By replacing the statue, we are removing one more barrier to meaningful and lasting change to end systemic racism, celebrate the themes of diversity and inclusion.'

So we as a community (since we revere this figure) are and support everything that he mentions in his press release; oppression, divisiveness, systemic racists? We have asked for actual historical references to these inflammatory comments by once again lobbying city hall and Robin Davis only to be discounted, belittled, and ignored (once again)."

ABC 6/FOX 28 will continue to update this story.