The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Authorities look for clues in defacement of Columbus statue
MIDDLETOWN — Law enforcement officials are seeking the public’s help in identifying two individuals they suspect vandalized the Cristoforo Colombo statue at Harbor Park the day after Columbus Day.
Late Thursday, Middletown police released two blackandwhite photographs taken from an Oct. 15 surveillance video at about 12:15 a.m. of a duo they believe spraypainted the words “lies,” “redrum” and “rapist” in red on the base of the statue.
This year, Oct. 14 was the day set aside to honor the 15thcentury explorer.
The Columbus Quincentennial Committee of Middletown, whose members were either Italian immigrants or children of immigrants, established the monument of a Columbus clutching closed his floorlength cape with a scroll in hand on Columbus Day 1996.
Middletown’s substantial ItalianAmerican community takes offense each time the monument is disrespected in some fashion.
“I believe the target was not the statue but the people that donated the funds for the statue,” said Bill Corvo, whose late father, Biaggio “Max” Corvo, was one of the hundreds of benefactors of the statue, and among its founders.
“Note, there is no paint on Columbus. This has to stop now, as it is harmful to our community,” Corvo said.
This isn’t the first time the statue has been the victim of defacement. Last October, Columbus’ nose was chipped away, prompting the city to pay for an artist to perform repair work.
In 2016, a vandal (or vandals) crossed out the description of Columbus as “discoverer of America” on the base of the statue. The words “looter,” “murderer,” “rapist” and “genocidal” were written on the base, one word for each of the monument’s four sides.
Years ago, the bronze plaque on the statue was scratched by vandals and soon repaired.
Among those who donated funds to erect the statue were Corvo’s mother Mary, members of the Italian American Civic Order and Italian Society of Middletown, and the Tomasso, Vinci, Salonia, Aresco and Perruccio families.
The statue is now under 24hour surveillance.
A number of cities no longer celebrate Columbus Day. Instead, some now recognize Indigenous People’s Day, in memory of the
many and varied native cultures that disappeared in the wake of the arrival of Columbus and other European explorers.
While Italian Americans see the Genoaborn explorer as a national hero, others,
especially descendants of indigenous people, see Columbus as an agent of exploitation and oppression.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Middletown Police Department at 8606384000.
Reporter Jeff Mill contributed to this article.