The following is a statement from the Honorable Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Newark, NJ:
“In keeping with the movement to remove symbols of oppression and white supremacy, we have decided to remove the statue of Christopher Columbus from Washington Park,” Mayor Ras J. Baraka said.
“We took it down with City work crews in a safe and orderly manner, to avoid the potential danger of people taking it upon themselves to topple it.”
Mayor Baraka said the statue will be kept in storage until the City decides what to do with it.
The statue was dedicated on Oct. 12, 1927, as a gift to the City from the Italian-American community.
“The removal of this statue should not be perceived as an insult to the Italian-American community,” Mayor Baraka said.
“It is a statement against the barbarism, enslavement, and oppression that this explorer represents.”