The Chicago government decided to remove two statues of Christopher Columbus from city parks because of the protests, the Associated Press reported on Saturday, July 25.
The monuments were temporarily removed from Grant Park and Arrigo “until further notice.” This decision was made in response to demonstrations that have become unsafe for both protesters and police officers.
In addition, they were regularly subjected to acts of vandalism.
In a statement, the mayor’s office noted that the statues were removed after “consultations with interested parties.”
As the newspaper notes, on July 17, the protesters clashed with the police, who had to use batons to stop the demonstrators with fireworks, stones and other objects. Several people were arrested.
Amid the protests caused by the death of an African-American George Floyd at the hands of police officers, the demolition of monuments to historical figures who, according to the protesters, are involved in the oppression of blacks has begun in the United States.
So, on July 5, it was reported that activists in the US state of Maryland, amid the roar of fireworks in honor of the Independence Day of the United States, threw a monument to Columbus into the bay.
