COLUMBUS – Columbus State Community College announced it will be dismantling the statue of Christopher Columbus that has been displayed on its downtown campus since 1988 in an effort to be “mindful of societal change.”
There have been increased calls for removal of statues of the famed explorer who historians say committed acts of genocide against Native Americans following his arrival in America in 1492.
Columbus State president David Harrison says the dismantling and storing of the statue is “a symbolic gesture of our commitment to our College and in our community to continue and accelerate the fight against systemic racism.”
The removal of the statue will be complete within the next two weeks and school officials will search for a new art installation for the location.
Originally created by sculptor Alfred Solani in 1959, the statue was first installed in an Illinois park, and was moved to the Columbus State campus in 1988.