Group to Blaz: Say goodbye, Columbus

A GROUP serving the city’s indigenous people wants Mayor de Blasio’s monuments commission to remove the city’s statues of Christopher Columbus — as Hizzoner prepares to march in a parade named for him Monday.

The American Indian Community House penned a letter to the commission weighing on the controversy, which began swirling after the mayor opened the door to removing “symbols of hate.” City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said she’d support removing statues of Columbus, seen by some as an icon of Italian-American culture and by others as a harbinger of colonization and genocide.

“We must collectivity acknowledge the atrocities of Columbus and admit he has no place in U.S. society,” the group’s leaders wrote.

“One action is to recommend the removal of all Columbus monuments,” they added, suggesting guidelines to block monuments of other people who stand for “oppressiveness.”

De Blasio has refused to offer an opinion on the Columbus statue, saying he’ll leave it to his commission. But he has historically marched in the Columbus Day Parade and intends to do so this year. Italian-American groups, meanwhile, have slammed the mayor for not ruling out removal.

Aru Apaza, an organizer with the American Indian Community House, said the group does not want to disrespect or offend Italians or Italian-Americans — and is coming from a “place of love and understanding.”

“We’re seeking truth and reconciliation,” Apaza said. “This country was founded on genocide and slavery, and it’s really hard to think that anything good can come out of that foundation.”

She said while de Blasio marches for Columbus Day, the American Indian Community House will observe Indigenous Peoples Day — which in Los Angeles recently replaced Columbus Day. The day will start with a celebration on Randalls Island and end with an event at the Museum of Natural History for a “Decolonize This Place” tour.

Another letter, signed by NYC Stands With Standing Rock, Decolonize This Place and Black Youth Project 100, calls on the city to “decolonize this day” by following in L.A.’s footsteps and changing its name.

That letter also calls for the removal of an equestrian statue of Theodore Roosevelt on Central Park West outside the American Museum of Natural History — which the letter says includes “Native and African stereotypes” pictured as subservient to Roosevelt.

The groups would also like to see Native American art moved from the history museum to an art museum.

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