Group seeks to move Columbus statue

NEW HAVEN — Residents of the Wooster Square neighborhood, including two Italian-American cultural societies, have agreed that the statue of Christopher Columbus should be removed from the park because of the explorer’s record of slavery and genocide against Native Americans.

Leaders include representatives of the St. Andrew the Apostle Society, the St. Catello Society, Alder Ellen Cupo, D-8, and Vincent Mauro Jr., the Democratic Town Committee chairman.

They credited a petition submitted by Rhea McTiernan Huge, 16, a rising junior at Wilbur Cross High School and a neighborhood resident, for articulating the need to remove the statue.

“It’s really good because when I was younger I didn’t realize the impact of having this statue in the park. Now I know it’s an important step to make the park a more-welcoming space.” Huge said.

“We want this statue to become a source of conversation and learning and that’s why we hope to find an appropriate place for it,” said Frank Carrano, a Wooster Square historian who signed the petition. “We are actively discussing possible placement of the statue in a university or museum setting where it can become a focal point for discussion and learning.

Almost 500 people had signed Huge’s petition by midday Monday. A separate similar petition circulated by Jacob Booth was signed by almost 1,500.

The statue, erected in 1892, is iconic for much of the 40-acre neighborhood east of downtown, particularly Italian Americans who rally at the statue each Columbus Day, celebrating their heritage in the city. But in recent years and days, Columbus, who sailed to the Caribbean in 1492, has become infamous for bringing imperialism, disease and racist violence to the New World.

“In the midst of this historic moment, the most important thing each of us can do is listen,” the group said in a statement. “We should listen first and foremost to those people who have been personally impacted by systemic and historic racism in our country, and especially in our criminal justice system. We should listen broadly about their life experiences and treatment, and also more specifically about what steps must be taken to fully meet this moment so that we can build a better and fairer society.”

The statue, which in recent years has been a target of vandalism, is “a representation of injustice and as a reminder of the mistreatment of immigrants and people of color going back to the founding of our nation,” said the group, which wants to replace Columbus with something that better reflects the values of the multiethnic community.

Carrano, who grew up on Wooster Square and serves as spokesman for the group, said he was proud that the coalition had come together quickly to decide that the statue no longer is appropriate in the park.

“This was a choice that was made and a decision that was made and one that I’m very proud of,” said Carrano, who writes a monthly column about growing up in the neighborhood for the New Haven Register.

“We didn’t wait for someone to drag the statue down. We decided it should be removed,” he said.

Carrano said that when Italians immigrated to New Haven, largely to work at Sargent and Co., the New Haven Clock Factory and other manufacturers, they didn’t have a legacy in America so they focused on Columbus as a symbol of pride.

“We realize now that it was a misplaced sense of pride because Columbus’ record is troubling,” Carrano said. “We’re hoping there will be a suitable memorial of some kind that will truly represent the Italian-American experience in Wooster Square . ... Italian organizations feel strongly that, having occupied Wooster Square for 100 years, that we have enriched the neighborhood, the city because of that.”

Mayor Justin Elicker also issued a statement praising the Italian community for taking proactive steps to remove the statue.

“The Christopher Columbus statue for many Italians is a celebration of Italian heritage. But the statue of Christopher Columbus also represents a time of colonialism and atrocities committed. It is the right decision to remove the statue,” Elicker said.