We love ya, Columbus
Bx. parade pols tout statue; Blaz shunned
POLS BACKING the Christopher Columbus statue at Columbus Circle took their fight to the Bronx Columbus Day Parade on Sunday, where they kicked off a petition drive asking Mayor de Blasio to keep the controversial sculpture in place.
“That statue of Christopher Columbus stands here today as a testament to our immigrant tradition, and Italian-American tradition,” said state Sen. Jeffrey Klein (D-Bronx), who joined other pols for a press conference in support of the statue before marching in the Morris Park parade.
They collected signatures from paradegoers to present to a panel created by de Blasio — who wasn’t invited to Sunday’s parade. Bronx parade chairman Tony Signorile said he didn’t extend the invite this year because de Blasio won’t take a position in support of the Columbus Circle landmark.
De Blasio’s opponents in the mayoral race did march, and lost no opportunity to take pot shots at Hizzoner over the monument squabble.
Republican nominee Nicole Malliotakis called it “mind-boggling” that the mayor would create a commission to review statues around the city for potential removal.
“Obviously, they feel insulted — and to be honest, they should be, because he has not taken a stand on defending the Christopher Columbus statue,” the Staten Island assemblywoman said.
De Blasio formed a commission to take a look at potential “symbols of hate” on city property, and recommend whether they should stay put, be taken down, or be altered.
He has declined to take a stand on any individual statue while the group does its work, including the statue of the explorer at Columbus Circle.
Many Italians revere Columbus as a symbol of their heritage, but opponents say he should not be honored because of his brutal treatment of Native Americans and the centuries of colonization that began with his voyages.
The American Indian Community House said it will observe Indigenous Peoples Day, which has replaced Columbus Day in some places. The celebration will start Monday on Randalls Island and end with an event at the Museum of Natural History, where activists will present a petition to rename the day Indigenous Peoples Day in the city.
Also on Monday, Assemblyman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) will hold a press conference in Columbus Circle to announce a bill that would rename the holiday Indigenous Peoples Day statewide.
“Not only did Columbus not discover America, some historians say he never even stepped foot on American soil,” Barron said in a news release. “He was a murdering, imperialistic colonist, who ... slaughtered indigenous people, and should not be honored for it.”
On Sunday, a wreath-laying ceremony at Columbus Circle turned rowdy when three young men interrupted the event wearing chains and a Ku Klux Klan mask.
“We will not allow you to celebrate terrorism!” shouted Glenn Cantave, 23, wearing chains around his neck and wrists. “We will not let you represent murder! We will not let you represent genocide!” Cops escorted the trio out of the event, cuffing the man wearing the KKK garb.