Deal reached in dispute over statue marking Polish massacre
NEW JERSEY: An acrimonious battle in New Jersey over plans to move a waterfront statue commemorating the 1940 massacre of Poles has ended.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and local Polish groups announced late Saturday that they have reached an agreement on relocating the Katyn Memorial. Details on the deal will be announced soon.
Fulop, a Democrat, called the deal a “winwin” in a tweet announcing the agreement.
He wrote that the goal was one that “respects/cares/keeps the monument in an extremely prominent location to honour sacrifices” while also giving the city “a chance to re-purpose our waterfront.”
City officials wanted to move the statue as part of a renovation of the plaza where it currently stands, on the waterfront across from downtown New York City.
The head of the group organising the renovation has called the statue “gruesome” and has said he prefers that it get a new home, according to published reports.
But the Polish groups opposed that and had sought a court order in recent days to block the move.
The bronze statue depicts a Polish soldier bound, gagged and impaled by a bayonet.
It sparked strong emotions in Poland, where Katyn is remembered as one of the worst tragedies to befall the nation in a long tragedy-filled history.
The Polish government said on Sunday it’s pleased an agreement has been reached that is satisfactory to all parties. — AP