Vandals target Christopher Columbus statues as city contemplates their place in history

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — The word “rapist” was spray-painted on the Christopher Columbus statue outside City Hall on Wednesday. At the Statehouse, the words “killer” and “slaver” also were written on the sidewalk next to the Christopher Columbus statue.

Police are reviewing surveillance video after another statue at Columbus State Community College was vandalized for the second time. This comes one day after administrators decided to remove the statue within the next few weeks.

There is a Change.dot.org petition calling for the removal of all the Christopher Columbus statues in the city. It says Columbus “left a legacy of enslavement, murder, and destruction of human beings.”

The Piave Italian Club said they either want the City Hall statue to remain or for leaders to return it to them. Joseph, who asked that his last name not be used said he wants to talk with the administration about their plans.

“People are way way too sensitive to factual and historical context to where their sensibilities cannot absorb the truths of history,” said Joseph.

“It is just a commentary on peoples’ drive-by meme education of history. Christopher Columbus probably in the past 15-20 years has been completely demonized the other direction. The truth is somewhere in the middle,” Joseph said.

The city of Genoa, Italy donated the City Hall statue to the Italian community in 1955, which was on loan to the city of Columbus.

“This is a literal historical witch-hunt,” said Joseph.

Minda Bickley of Gahanna brought her grown daughter and grandchildren to look at the murals springing up following the recent demonstrations. Bickley said the messages are powerful and while she isn’t sure if the statues should stay or go, Bickley hopes the protests over them is a spark.

“I hope it becomes something else besides a moment in time and we don’t just go back to what we have done in the past. I really hope we make some change.”

The Capitol Square Review Board plans to talk about the Statehouse statue at their July 16th meeting.

Mayor Andrew Ginther’s staff did not return our calls for emails about what is next for the City Hall statue. City Council member Elizabeth Brown said, “Christopher Columbus’ legacy is one of brutal treatment and of racial genocide and the fact of the matter is I don’t have a good explanation for my kids about why he adorns our city’s front lawn.”

“I definitely don’t think it should be vandalized. I think that we need to have a conversation as a community about removing the symbol of racial genocide,” Brown said.