A clip of Vice President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a> voicing her support for changing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/columbus-day">Columbus Day</a> to Indigenous Peoples&#8217; Day is circulating online, and the Trump campaign has responded.
Harris made her opinion of the holiday and its honoree clear during her failed 2020 presidential campaign and during her time in the Biden-Harris administration, as it was the first to issue a presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples&#8217; Day to be honored alongside Columbus Day, a federal holiday established by Congress.
“Every October, the United States has recognized the voyage of the European explorers who first landed on the shores of the Americas,” Harris said during the speech at the National Congress of American Indians Conference in 2021. “But that is not the whole story. That has never been the whole story.”
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MATT WALSH&#8217;S &#8216;AM I RACIST?&#8217; COMING TO DAILYWIRE+ OCT. 28</a>
“Those explorers ushered in a wave of devastation for tribal nations — perpetrating violence, stealing land and spreading disease,” Harris continued. “We must not shy away from this shameful past. And we must shed light on it and do everything we can to address the impact of the past on native communities today.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Kamala Harris on Columbus Day:
&quot;European explorers ushered in a wave of devastation, violence, stealing land, and widespread disease&quot; <a href="https://t.co/3XijDf5Ldo">pic.twitter.com/3XijDf5Ldo</a>
&mdash; End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1845805483539472438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The Trump campaign addressed this issue in a <a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/news/7c40eb9a-9c4b-475e-b410-cf72bb72457e">press release</a> on its official website. The document noted that Harris had exclusively celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day over Columbus Day each year and that she told a voter she would support renaming the federal holiday for good.
“Kamala Harris is your stereotypical leftist. Not only does she want to raise taxes and defund the police — she also wants to cancel American traditions like Columbus Day,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
“President Trump will make sure Christopher Columbus’ great legacy is honored and protect this holiday from radical leftists who want to erase our nation’s history like Kamala Harris,” Leavitt added.
“For generations, Indigenous people have protected their lands, languages, knowledge, and traditions. On Indigenous Peoples&#8217; Day, we honor these many contributions and recommit to working alongside Indigenous people to ensure their communities thrive for generations to come,” Harris <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1711425541872484390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">tweeted</a> last year on Columbus Day.
“On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we pay respect to Tribal Nations and indigenous history. Today and every day, let us continue to celebrate and uplift the rich contributions of Indigenous peoples—their leadership has made our country stronger,” she <a href="https://x.com/VP/status/1579480621788774400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">shared</a> in 2022.

Christopher Columbus

Clip Of Kamala Bashing Columbus Day Resurfaces, Trump Camp Promises To ‘Protect This Holiday’

Biden-Harris administration

Columbus Day

Donald Trump

Elections

indigenous

Kamala Harris

Native Americans

Politics

To hear the Left tell it, Christopher Columbus single-handedly came to the new world to spread racism and disease. 
But anyone with an ounce of historical knowledge knows that’s a complete rewrite of what happened seen through the lens of a purple-haired Gender Studies major. Columbus was a human with flaws, sure. But he wasn’t a supervillain. He was brave (remember, no GPS back then), adventurous, and wise. He was a man’s man. 
Columbus. A man worth celebrating.
Michael Knowles put it best during a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn3Sgg39pDc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speech</a> at California State University in 2021. When a professor at the college tried to repeat the lie that the land Columbus came upon was owned by the native tribes and should therefore revert to them, Knowles asked him to pinpoint which tribes should get the land.
The professor was unable to answer directly. Knowles laid out the contradiction in his reasoning, saying, “The Comanche Indians come in and they conquer areas run by the Apache Indians. Now the United States comes in and it owns that land. To which tribe should that revert… to the Comanche who had it before us, or the Apache who had it before them?”
This line of reasoning lays bare the futility of making land ownership arguments when referring to a time of exploration and conquest. 
Knowles also refuted the claim that Columbus was “racist” or “a genocidal maniac,” saying these accusations are unfounded despite their popularity. 
The Daily Wire podcast host further expanded on his feelings about Columbus during a 2019 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y-Ag-ocB-Q" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speech</a> he gave at The University of Notre Dame. 
Knowles said Columbus was “born to no rank and received no education other than the extensive instruction into which he poured his sizable genius.” He mentioned that the Left hates him at least in part because he was a devout Catholic.
Citing historical evidence, Knowles pointed out multiple times when Columbus was attacked by native tribes and showed restraint. Right now you can celebrate this great explorer with Mayflower Cigars, Michael Knowles’s brand of premium, handmade cigars that champions rich historical roots and commitment to quality. Save 5% on <a href="https://mayflowercigars.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayflower Cigars with code COLUMBUS</a> at checkout for a limited time. Must be 21 years or older to order. Some exclusions apply. And check out the Columbus Day sale on the <a href="https://thecandleclub.com/collections/mayflower" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayflower’s brand-new collaboration with The Candle Club</a>, featuring scents inspired by the historic voyage and the premium cigar blends.
In short, Columbus was a man of his time. The Left would love to rip down his statue and cry over his perceived flaws. 
In fact, if they’d been around back then, he&#8217;d be the type of man to use Jeremy’s Razors.
No portraits of Columbus were ever painted, but one biographer described him as having red hair and a beard before it turned gray at an early age. He’d surely have benefitted from Jeremy’s Precision 5 razor, a redesigned masterpiece of ingenuity that delivers an exceptionally smooth &amp; close shave. It’s all thanks to five coated stainless steel blades, an Argan oil- and aloe-infused lubricating strip, and a precision trimmer. Don&#8217;t let stubble colonize your face. This Columbus Day, <a href="https://www.jeremysrazors.com/collections/columbus-day?utm_campaign=Gen2&amp;utm_medium=editorial&amp;utm_source=dw-site&amp;utm_content=dailywire_ColumbusDay" target="_blank" rel="noopener">save 14.92% on Jeremy&#8217;s Razors</a>.
Columbus didn’t create racism or exploitation — he simply sought to expand horizons and bring worlds together. So raise a glass to one of the good ones and celebrate this Columbus Day by supporting companies with the same values you have.
Jeremy&#8217;s Razors and Mayflower Cigars share common ownership with The Daily Wire.

Celebrate Christopher Columbus, A Brave Explorer For The Ages

Celebrate Christopher Columbus, A Brave Explorer For the Ages

Jeremy's Razors

Mayflower Cigars

A committee of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-york-city" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York City</a> Council is set to vote Tuesday on a proposal that could result in monuments to figures like <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/george-washington" target="_blank" rel="noopener">George Washington</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/christopher-columbus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christopher Columbus</a> being taken down. 
The proposal before the NYC Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations stipulates that public art that depicts someone who has a connection to slavery or “crimes against humanity” be taken down or have an “explanatory plaque” put up. 
“This bill would require the Public Design Commission (PDC) to publish a plan to remove works of art on City property that depict a person who owned enslaved persons or directly benefitted [sic] economically from slavery, or who participated in systemic crimes against indigenous peoples or other crimes against humanity. If PDC determines a work of art depicts a person who fits these criteria and decides not to remove the work of art, PDC would be required to include in the plan steps it will take to install an explanatory plaque next to the work of art,” the <a href="https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6252793&amp;GUID=8AE3AFA6-B96B-4AF2-AEBF-CF4870C824AE&amp;Options=&amp;Search=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proposal</a> says. 
Republican officials said the proposal is an attempt to erase history and dishonor the individuals who created America. 
“This is little more than an attempt by the radical left to rewrite our nation’s history,” said Republican Councilwoman Joann Ariola of Queens, <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/09/18/nyc-council-advances-bid-that-could-yank-monuments-honoring-washington-jefferson-columbus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the New York Post. “These men all had an enormous impact on this country, and these statues commemorating their achievements have been in place for decades.&#8221;
“The radical left has been trying to reframe our nation as one born from evil, and it is time we put our foot down and say enough is enough,” she said. “The Founding Fathers and the others who worked so hard to establish this great country should be celebrated, not eliminated from memory.”
There are multiple statues of Washington, the nation’s first president and military commander during the war for independence throughout the city, including one in front of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/feha/index.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal Hall</a>, which served as the home to the nation’s first Congress, executive branch offices, and Supreme Court. There are also monuments to Washington in <a href="https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/union-square-park/monuments/1676" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Union Square Park</a> and a <a href="https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/lafayette-square/monuments/1650" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statue</a> of Washington and Frenchman Marquis de Lafayette who fought with the Americans during the American Revolution. 
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Columbus, attributed with first establishing a link between Europe and the Americas, also has several monuments throughout the city, including a prominent statue in Central Park. The explorer has been a major figure for the Italian-American community, which has held him up as a key tie between Italy and the U.S. 
Monuments to Dutch explorer and settler Peter Stuyvesant, Founding Father John Jay, and prominent early New York political figure and Erie Canal proponent DeWitt Clinton could also be on the chopping block.
New York City Officials have already <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/thomas-jefferson-statue-officially-booted-from-new-york-city-council-chamber" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removed a statue</a> of Declaration of Independence author Thomas Jefferson from the city council chambers and a statue of President Teddy Roosevelt <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/problematic-theodore-roosevelt-statue-to-be-removed-from-nycs-museum-of-natural-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">from in front</a> of the city’s Natural History Museum.

The statue of Washington in Union Square Park, New York city

NYC To Consider A Proposal That Could Mean Taking Down Monuments To George Washington, Columbus

American History

George Washington

monuments

New York City

Social Issues

A court in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/pennsylvania" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pennsylvania</a> ruled Friday that the city of Philadelphia must uncover a statue of Christopher Columbus.
The Christopher Columbus statue in Marconi Plaza in South Philadelphia had been enclosed in a plywood box after it was at the center of protests in 2020. But the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled Friday that the box must be taken off, affirming a ruling by the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. Instead, the court authorized the construction of a clear structure around the statue.
“As a proud Citizen of Philadelphia, I am delighted that both Judge Patrick of the Court of Common Pleas and the Judges of the Commonwealth Court have boldly reaffirmed that the rule of law still matters,&#8221; George Bochetto, lawyer for the group Friends of Marconi Plaza, said in a statement Friday, via <a href="https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/marconi-plaza-philadelphia-columbus-statue/2986317/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC 10</a>. &#8220;That we are not a society ruled by cancel culture mobs. That all ethnic groups can proudly protect and honor their diverse heritages.&#8221;
Friends of Marconi Plaza, a neighborhood organization recognized by the city as the official private caretakers of the park, sued in 2021 to stop city officials from removing the statue after the Philadelphia Historical and Art Commissions both voted to have it removed in the wake of the 2020 riots, and the city&#8217;s Licensing and Inspection Review Board sided with the city and moved forward with taking the statue down.
The Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County ruled in favor of Friends of Marconi Plaza in 2021, halting the removal of the statue.
The <a href="https://www.pacourts.us/assets/opinions/Commonwealth/out/938CD21_12-9-22.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commonwealth Court</a> upheld the lower court&#8217;s ruling. In a separate order shared by Fox 29 News reporter Steve Keeley, the court affirmed the lower court’s decision in part, directing the city to remove the plywood enclosure; however, it also reversed the decision in part, authorizing the construction of a clear structure around the statue.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“The order is affirmed insofar as it directs the City of Philadelphia to remove the plywood structure covering the Christopher Columbus statue in Marconi Plaza” <a href="https://twitter.com/FOX29philly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FOX29philly</a> <a href="https://t.co/p5XoIfdVUZ">pic.twitter.com/p5XoIfdVUZ</a>
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeeleyFox29/status/1601289721036288000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
A spokesperson for Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said the city was &#8220;very disappointed in the Court’s ruling,&#8221; but would comply with the court&#8217;s ruling, including unboxing the statue. &#8220;While we will respect this decision, we will also continue to explore our options for a way forward that allows Philadelphians to celebrate their heritage and culture while respecting the histories and circumstances of everyone’s different backgrounds,&#8221; the spokesman said.
The statue, first erected in 1876 and moved in 1976, was targeted by protesters in the summer of 2020 in the midst of riots over the death of George Floyd, which included tearing down statues of historical figures around the country. But South Philadelphia residents, mainly Italian-Americans, showed up to the park to guard the statue from protesters.
<a href="https://twitter.com/UncleSamsTribe/status/1272991176174567431?s=20&amp;t=tMhH1VUX0-qs19Mjy59QgA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Viral videos</a> from the time showed the neighbors <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeSolis/status/1271959870984650756?s=20&amp;t=Il6TT58q_J50vgN0n8sScQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">guarding</a> the statue, armed with bats and other weapons. Kenney responded to the protests by covering the statue with the plywood box. He also tried to have the statue <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/philadelphia-mayor-wants-columbus-statue-removed-cites-public-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taken down</a>.
&#8220;Like many communities across the country, Philadelphia is in the midst of a much-needed reckoning about the legacy of systemic racism and oppression in this country and around the world,&#8221; he said at the time. &#8220;Part of that reckoning requires reexamining what historical figures deserve to be commemorated in our public spaces. In recent weeks, clashes between individuals who support the statue of Christopher Columbus in Marconi Plaza and those who are distressed by its existence have deteriorated—creating a concerning public safety situation that cannot be allowed to continue.&#8221;
In October, City Councilman Mark Squilla, whose district borders the park, requested that the box be painted with the colors of the Italian flag ahead of Columbus Day, <a href="https://www.fox29.com/news/court-rules-box-covering-columbus-statue-in-south-philadelphia-must-be-removed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox 29</a> reported.

Statue of Christopher Columbus in Marconi Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

PA Court Rules Philadelphia Must Uncover Christopher Columbus Statue

Pennsylvania Court Rules Christopher Columbus Statue In South Philadelphia Must Be Uncovered

Court

Courts

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

Statues

U.S.

Single mother and Virginia state Senate candidate <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/journalist-calls-child-protective-services-on-senate-candidate-and-single-mom-over-columbus-day-tweet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tina Ramirez</a> (R) made it clear that she was ready to fight back after self-described journalist David Leavitt apparently reported her to Child Protective Services over a tweet.
The offending tweet was a simple statement from Ramirez wishing her followers a happy <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/elizabeth-warren-celebrates-indigenous-peoples-day-social-media-happy-columbus-day-chief/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Columbus Day</a> — and Leavitt, who had previously expressed his own views eschewing the holiday, accused her of promoting rape and racism, among other things.
The spat escalated quickly throughout the day on Monday, and after Ramirez made it clear that she intended to teach her child history without interference from left-wing activists, Leavitt first entreated his 330,000+ followers to call CPS and report her for &#8220;abuse&#8221; because he claimed she was teaching her child to be racist.
Leavitt eventually opted to make the call himself — all the while complaining that he had to sit on hold for more than an hour to file his report with the state.
Ramirez pushed back, accusing Leavitt of wasting state resources in his pursuit of what amounted to political persecution — and Christina Pushaw, rapid response director for Governor <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/does-it-say-that-in-the-bill-ron-desantis-rebukes-reporter-for-pushing-dont-say-gay-narrative/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ron DeSantis</a> (R-FL), was among a number of people who suggested that might actually be a crime in the state of Virginia.
&#8220;Isn’t this a crime in VA? It’s like making a false 911 call or Swatting. Report him to the state police and AG’s office. Get him arrested. If he doesn’t face consequences he will do it again,&#8221; Pushaw said.
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Isn’t this a crime in VA? It’s like making a false 911 call or Swatting. Report him to the state police and AG’s office. Get him arrested. If he doesn’t face consequences he will do it again.
&mdash; Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChristinaPushaw/status/1579796301486886913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Ramirez apparently did just that, announcing on Tuesday that she had followed her words with actions — or, at least, with a phone call to Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) to report the issue.
&#8220;I spoke with AG @JasonMiyaresVA&#8217;s office this morning about being falsely reported to CPS. He stands behind parent&#8217;s rights &amp; I&#8217;m confident that the AG will fight for individual parent&#8217;s decisions to raise their kids &amp; guard against efforts to weaponize our schools and CPS,&#8221; she tweeted.
https://twitter.com/TinaRamirezVA/status/1579830867513708550
&#8220;On a personal note, Abigail and I are doing great and we appreciate all the support as the left continues to bully our family,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;The real tragedy in all of this is the time wasted by @David_Leavitt, which consumed valuable CPS resources, putting children in harm&#8217;s way.&#8221;

Tina Ramirez

Tina Ramirez Fights Back After Activist Calls CPS To ‘Report’ Her Columbus Day Tweet

Tina Ramirez Fights Back After Activist Calls CPS To 'Report' Her Columbus Day Tweet

Child Abuse

Child Protective Services

Virginia

Self-described &#8220;Award-winning multi-media journalist&#8221; David Leavitt called Child Protective Services on Virginia State Senate candidate Tina Ramirez, reporting her for &#8220;child abuse&#8221; because her opinion of <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/columbus-day-what-really-killed-so-many-natives-robert-kraychik/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Columbus Day</a> differed from his.
The spat began with an apparent non-sequitur, when Leavitt replied to a tweet from Ramirez over reports that <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/new-paypal-policy-lets-company-pull-2500-from-users-accounts-if-they-promote-misinformation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PayPal planned to fine</a> people for spreading &#8220;misinformation&#8221; — a story broken by Daily Wire reporter Ben Zeisloft.
&#8220;Only women can be pregnant. Do I owe PayPal $2500 now?&#8221; Ramirez asked, to which Leavitt replied, &#8220;Why are you celebrating torture, rape, murder, and enslavement?&#8221;
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Why are you celebrating torture, rape, murder, and enslavement?
&mdash; David Leavitt 🎲🎮🧙‍♂️🌈 (@David_Leavitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Leavitt/status/1579547835078692864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Leavitt appeared to be referencing another tweet in which Ramirez wished her followers a happy Columbus Day, and Ramirez responded with a simple explanation: &#8220;I teach my daughter real American history. I refuse to join the radical left&#8217;s campaign to erase history.&#8221;
https://twitter.com/TinaRamirezVA/status/1579576278721916928
Leavitt responded by attempting to get some of his 330,000+ followers to harass Ramirez by reporting her to Child Protective Services.
&#8220;Can someone please call child care services on Tina Ramirez who&#8217;s teaching her child to be a racist?&#8221; he asked.
He then apparently decided to make the call himself — and complained about the long wait time to speak to someone at the hotline.
&#8220;The Virginia State hotline for child abuse has a 10+ minute hold and is experiencing &#8216;high call volumes&#8217; with 14 callers ahead of me. This is absolutely unacceptable. How many people try to report child abuse and hang up? How many children will continue to be abused?&#8221; he asked.
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The Virginia State hotline for child abuse has a 10+ minute hold and is experiencing “high call volumes” with 14 callers ahead of me.
This is absolutely unacceptable. How many people try to report child abuse and hang up? How many children will continue to be abused? <a href="https://t.co/yZOKEqTAcn">pic.twitter.com/yZOKEqTAcn</a>
&mdash; David Leavitt 🎲🎮🧙‍♂️🌈 (@David_Leavitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Leavitt/status/1579581164922482688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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While Leavitt continued to hold — and continued to complain about the wait time — Ramirez responded: &#8220;Mighty bold and liberal of you to lecture a Hispanic mother with a black daughter on racism. What’s next? Are you going to lecture me on women’s rights?&#8221;
Leavitt responded by wondering whether she knew he was waiting to report her — and then informed her that &#8220;having a black child doesn&#8217;t make you any less racist.&#8221;
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Having a black child doesn&#39;t make you any less racist<a href="https://t.co/QnrkB39TTq">https://t.co/QnrkB39TTq</a>
&mdash; David Leavitt 🎲🎮🧙‍♂️🌈 (@David_Leavitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Leavitt/status/1579589942766104577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Leavitt <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Leavitt/status/1579593293780094976" target="_blank" rel="noopener">continued to complain</a> about the wait time, posting updates showing that he had been on hold for over an hour. As he waited on the line to report Ramirez for abusing her child —by celebrating Columbus Day — he lamented the amount of abuse that must be taking place in Virginia for wait times to be so long.
Ramirez responded to the entire situation in a Twitter thread of her own, saying, &#8220;Tonight, @David_Leavitt called Child Protective Services to report &#8216;child abuse&#8217; because I teach my daughter about Christopher Columbus and real American history. As a single mother, I am my daughter&#8217;s only support. This is appalling for a number of reasons.&#8221;
https://twitter.com/TinaRamirezVA/status/1579644309959512065
&#8220;Radical leftist @David_Leavitt didn&#8217;t just call CPS to level accusations against me,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;He waited an hour on hold, tying up the lines of our CPS professionals trying to help Virginia&#8217;s children. The radical left is willing to put our children at risk to cancel conservatives.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s no surprise that a member of the radical left is willing to go so far as to call CPS on a single mother &#8211; simply because they want to erase history. The radical left doesn’t want parents making decisions for their own families,&#8221; Ramirez added.
https://twitter.com/TinaRamirezVA/status/1579644313755348992
&#8220;This goes back to what Virginians fought for in 2021 when they elected @GlennYoungkin: parent’s rights,&#8221; Ramirez concluded. &#8220;The radical left is willing to sit on hold with CPS for a full hour to level accusations of child abuse — all because we don’t agree with their out-of-touch worldview.&#8221;

Journalist Calls Child Protective Services On Senate Candidate And Single Mom Over Columbus Day Tweet

David Leavitt Calls Child Protective Services On Senate Candidate Tina Ramirez Over Columbus Day Tweet

PayPal

A new national poll suggests that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hispanics">Hispanics</a> in the U.S. favor Christopher Columbus more than President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Conducted by WPA Intelligence, a conservative polling firm that collaborated with Visto Media on behalf of Latino advocacy group Bienvenido, the national poll surveyed 1,086 respondents about which high-profile personalities Hispanic communities approved or disapproved of in an era where liberal politicians and activists propagate ongoing efforts to cancel the 15th-century Italian navigator who set out on a historic voyage in 1492.
&#8220;When you juxtapose Christopher Columbus&#8217; popularity among Hispanics with the misguided efforts to &#8216;cancel&#8217; him by progressive activists and politicians, it shows how out of touch the far left is with our community,&#8221; Abraham Enriquez, Bienvenido president, said.
Progressives have been pushing for the cancellation of Christopher Columbus in recent decades, deeming his journey to sail from the Spanish port of Palos de la Frontera on behalf of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II to explore Western civilization as an act of genocide of the Indigenous people.
&#8220;The reality is that most Hispanics, especially those who are immigrants, view Columbus quite favorably,&#8221; Enriquez added.
While educational institutes, liberal politicians, and anti-American extremists push the narrative that the Italian explorer embarked on an expedition to merely rape, pillage, and enslave the West, Hispanic communities refuse to buy the message.
According to the poll the partnering groups ran earlier this month, 53% of Hispanics view Columbus favorably, while 24% view him unfavorably, yielding a net favorability of 29 points. Meanwhile, 49% percent of Hispanics have a positive opinion of Biden, while 42% have a negative view of him, resulting in a net favorability of seven points.
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🚨NEW POLL🚨
We partnered with <a href="https://twitter.com/WPAIntel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WPAIntel</a> to conduct a national poll of Hispanics and asked them their views of Christopher Columbus and others.
Hispanics like Columbus much more than Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Fav/Unfav Columbus: 53/24, +29 Biden: 49/42, +7 Harris: 45/41, +4 <a href="https://t.co/Nexkl8v6vg">pic.twitter.com/Nexkl8v6vg</a>
&mdash; Bienvenido (@bienvenido_us) <a href="https://twitter.com/bienvenido_us/status/1579528470136508419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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On the other hand, Harris was viewed by Hispanics as the least popular between Biden and Columbus, with a net favorability rating of four points, as 45% of Hispanics say they have a favorable view of her and 41% view her unfavorably.
The poll also suggested that Hispanics&#8217; views on Columbus varied by age and whether they were born on U.S. soil or in another country. The survey says the older generations born outside the nation are more likely to view the explorer favorably than those born in the United States.
Among 18-39 years-old Latinos, 45% have a favorable view of Columbus, while 30% view him unfavorably. Among 40-59 year-olds, 54% have a favorable opinion of him and 29% unfavorable. However, among Hispanics 60 and older, 71% view him favorably and just 17% unfavorably, the poll indicates.
&#8220;It is not surprising that the same people who think Hispanics like being called &#8216;Latinx&#8217; have also assumed Hispanics are offended by Christopher Columbus — and got it completely wrong, again,&#8221; Conor Maguire, Principal and Managing Director of WPA Intelligence, said. &#8220;In the future, maybe progressives should just ask Hispanics how they feel about issues?&#8221;

TO GO WITH STORY by Karin ZEITVOGEL, Lif

Hispanics Favor Columbus Over Biden and Harris: Report

Hispanics

Latinos

Liberalism

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A judge has ruled that a historic Columbus monument in Syracuse, New York, can remain in its current location after Mayor Ben Walsh tried to take it down and move it. 
State Supreme Court Judge Gerard Neri <a href="https://www.syracuse.com/news/2022/03/syracuse-mayor-ben-walsh-cant-remove-downtown-christopher-columbus-statue-judge-rules.html">ruled</a> late last week that the statue should not be moved and that the city did not have the legal right to take it down.
Syracuse’s monument to the explorer, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/its-not-about-hate-syracuse-residents-stand-up-for-historic-columbus-monument-as-mayor-plans-removal">dedicated</a> in 1934 and sculpted in Florence, Italy. The statue was put up in large part through the efforts and funds of Italian immigrants who wanted to honor their heritage as Italians and new Americans. 
Judge Neri said in the ruling that the city of Syracuse, “no legal right to alter the piece of art known as the Christopher Columbus Monument or remove same or any part of it from its present place on St. Mary’s Circle, commonly known as Columbus Circle, in the city of Syracuse.”
Efforts to save the statue were led by the Columbus Monument Corporation, a group dedicated to preserving the monument and honoring the memory of Columbus. 
“We are pleased with the Court&#8217;s decision to preserve the historic Columbus Monument as is, in its original location, where it was dedicated by over 40,000 Onondaga County citizens in 1934,” the Corporation said in a statement following the ruling. “We appreciate the Court&#8217;s careful consideration of our petition requesting that this important public art be preserved. The decision reflects the extent to which the court heard and analyzed the arguments of all parties.”
According to Neri, Walsh did not consult with the city’s Common Council and did not have the ability to remove the monument on his own. The judge also noted it would be against the city charter to remove the statue.
Columbus monuments across the country have come under fire in recent years as some allege that the explorer represents the evils of Western imperialism. However, groups like the Columbus Monument Corporation have fought to maintain monuments to the Italian explorer. 
“It remains the position of the Columbus Monument Corporation and the other petitioners that changes by certain community leaders about their interpretation, sensitivity and historical perspective is not a basis to destroy or remove the Columbus Monument,” the organization said. 
They also added that they were not opposed to other historic monuments being put up, they just did not want Columbus taken away. 
Despite the judge’s ruling, Walsh, an Independent who won reelection in November has said he will appeal the ruling. 
“The City of Syracuse will appeal the decision and looks forward to presenting its position to the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division,” he said in a statement. 
Back in October while the fight over the statue was ongoing, Anthony Ilacqua, of the Columbus Monument Corporation told The Daily Wire he thought the statue was an important part of the city&#8217;s history.  
“This monument is very much a part of our family heritage. It wasn’t put up by unknown people in the past. We know who built it. We know who sculpted it, who raised the money,” he told The Daily Wire. “We know who put it up. It’s very much our monument. We take pride in it and celebrate it every year.”

Monument Of Christopher Columbus Against Cloudy Sky

Saved: Judge Thwarts Mayor’s Attempt To Remove Historic Columbus Monument

Speaking at the National Congress of American Indians 78th Annual Convention on Tuesday, the day after Columbus Day, Vice President Kamala Harris took the opportunity to slam the European explorers who reached the Americas hundreds of years ago, calling it an era with a “shameful past” and lecturing, “Those explorers ushered in a wave of devastation for tribal nations — perpetrating violence, stealing land, and spreading disease.”
Harris appealed to her audience as victims and separated them from the general populace of America as she spoke of different nations, saying, “President Joe Biden and I believe that the bond between our nations is sacred.”
“And we take seriously our responsibility to one another,” she continued. “It is an honor to be with you this week as we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, as we speak truth about our nation’s history.”
Then she launched into her criticism of explorers like Columbus: “Since 1934, every October, the United States has recognized the voyage of the European explorers who first landed on the shores of the Americas. But that is not the whole story. That has never been the whole story. Those explorers ushered in a wave of devastation for tribal nations — perpetrating violence, stealing land, and spreading disease. We must not shy away from this shameful past.”
She then blamed current ills on ancient actions: “And we must shed light on it and do everything we can to address the impact of the past on Native communities today. Today we know that Native women and girls are missing and murdered at alarming rates. This is an epidemic and it must end.”
She then segued to the Democratic Party&#8217;s agenda: “Today we also know that Native American voters are being systematically denied access to the ballot box which is why we must pass the Freedom to Vote act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.”
She later stated, “I believe that we are at the beginning of a new era and a moment of incredible transformation as we work to rebuild our economy. As we work to restore our democracy.”
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The Biden administration&#8217;s relationship with some Native American tribes has been rocky. On January 21, the day after President Biden’s inauguration, a Native American tribe issued a blistering letter to Biden’s Acting Secretary of the Interior, Scott de la Vega, blasting his Secretarial Order No. 3395.
As <a href="https://www.energyindepth.org/biden-admin-acknowledges-suspending-new-federal-permits-is-only-the-beginning-despite-potentially-significant-consequences/">Energy In Depth</a> reports, the order “temporarily suspends delegations of authority regarding leasing and permitting on federal lands, with a significantly reduced staff able to approve such items. This order does not halt leasing or existing development, and at its face is a temporary measure, but is certain to create bottlenecks that last well-beyond the 60-day limit on the order.”
The Department of the Interior <a href="https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/fact-sheet-interior-department-welcomes-day-one-executive-orders-restore-public-lands">defended Order No. 3395</a> by writing, “The Order does not impact existing ongoing operations under valid leases and does not preclude the issuance of leases, permits and other authorizations by those specified. In addition, any actions necessary in the event of an incident that might pose a threat to human health, welfare, or safety will continue.”
But as Energy in Depth noted, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki &#8220;said the administration still has a commitment to ending new oil and gas leasing on federal lands, without elaborating on the president’s plans.&#8221;
&#8220;We do, and the leases will be reviewed by our team,&#8221; Psaki said, as Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-21/biden-poised-to-freeze-oil-and-coal-leasing-on-federal-land?sref=h5EZFUoq">reported</a>.
The Ute Indian Tribe website <a href="https://utepac.com/">noted</a>, “The Uintah and Ouray reservation is located in Northeastern Utah (Fort Duchesne) approximately 150 miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, on US Highway 40. There are around 3,200 tribal members, and the Reservation rests within a three-county area known as the ‘Uintah Basin.’&#8221; The reservation is “the second largest Indian reservation in the United States and covers almost 4.5 million acres,” the website adds.
In his letter to de la Vega, Luke Duncan, the chairman of the Ute Indian Tribe Business Committee, wrote:
<blockquote>The Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation respectfully requests that you immediately amend Order No. 3395 to provide an exception for energy permits and approvals on Indian lands. The Ute Indian Tribe and other energy producing tribes rely on energy development to fund our governments and provide services to our members.
Your order is a direct attack on our economy, sovereignty, and our right to self-determination. Indian lands are not federal public lands. Any action on our lands and interests can only be taken after effective tribal consultation.
Order No. 3395 violates the United States treaty and trust responsibilities to the Ute Indian Tribe and violates important principles of tribal sovereignty and self-determination. Your order was also issued in violation (of) our government-to-government relationship. Executive Order No. 13175 on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, and Interior’s own Policy on Consultation with Tribal Governments.
The order must be withdrawn or amended to comply with Federal law and policies. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We look forward from hearing from you.</blockquote>
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The Ute Indian Tribe does not mince words in their response to Interior’s order restricting federal energy development:
“Your order is a direct attack on our economy, sovereignty, and our right to self-determination.” <a href="https://t.co/U5MiZCMx4n">pic.twitter.com/U5MiZCMx4n</a>
&mdash; Megan Barnett Bloomgren (@MeganBloomgren) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeganBloomgren/status/1352762679392399360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Vice President Kamala Harris addresses the National Congress of American Indians

Kamala Rips Explorers’ ‘Shameful Past’ Who Came To America: ‘That Has Never Been The Whole Story’

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) on Monday signed a declaration promoting Columbus Day in the state of Florida.
DeSantis&#8217; unequivocal comments in the declaration come as left-wing activists and politicians continue to redefine the holiday as &#8220;Indigenous Peoples&#8217; Day&#8221; and vilify the explorer.
&#8220;Columbus Day commemorates the life and legacy of the Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus, who made Europeans conscious of the existence of the New World and whose travels opened the door for the development of European settlements in the Western Hemisphere, which would ultimately lead to the establishment of the United States of America,&#8221; DeSantis&#8217; declaration said.
The governor noted that Columbus Day was first proclaimed a national holiday by President Benjamin Harrison in 1892, though, &#8220;until very recently,&#8221; the &#8220;unifying day for all Americans&#8221; has turned political.
&#8220;Columbus stands a singular figure in Western Civilization who exemplified courage, risk-taking, and heroism in the face of enormous odds; as a visionary who saw the possibilities of exploration beyond Europe; and as a founding father who laid the foundation for what would one day become the United States of America, which would commemorate Columbus by naming its federal district after him,&#8221; the proclamation continued.
DeSantis then touched on the significance of Columbus Day for Italian-Americans.
&#8220;Columbus continues to be a historical figure who engenders the pride of nearly 17 million Italian Americans, a community whose warmth, generosity, patriotism, and love of family have made those characteristics even greater components of the broader American culture and way of life,&#8221; it said.
DeSantis&#8217;s proclamation emphasized that &#8220;we must learn from history and continue to discuss Columbus&#8217; contributions, discoveries, and experiences rather than revise history, and acknowledge that individuals who seek to defame Columbus and try to expunge the day from our civic calendar do so as part of a mission to portray the United States and Western history in a negative light as they seek to blame our country and its values for all that is evil in the world, rather than see it as the force for good.&#8221;

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DeSantis Signs Columbus Day Declaration As Left Vilifies Explorer

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Florida

Ron DeSantis

Last Friday, after President  Biden issued two proclamations, one which <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/10/08/a-proclamation-on-columbus-day-2021/">honored Columbus Day</a> but cited “the painful history of wrongs and atrocities that many European explorers inflicted on Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities” and <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/10/08/a-proclamation-indigenous-peoples-day-2021/">another</a> that celebrated the day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the NBA San Antonio Spurs&#8217; coach Gregg Popovich, who spent the years of the Trump presidency attacking President Trump, lauded Biden while attacking those who celebrated Columbus Day, snapping that Italian-Americans honoring Columbus was akin to saying, “We should be proud of Hitler because we are German.”
At a pre-game session before the Spurs-Heat preseason game, Popovich proclaimed of Biden’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day proclamation, “The proclamation was obviously appropriate, important, needed, and all those sorts of things but I’m a little confused about our city and why it’s Indigenous People’s Day ‘slash’ Columbus Day. Columbus?”
“He initiated a New World genocide,” he continued. “That’s what he did. Beginning with him and what he set in motion what followed, the annihilation of every Indigenous person in Hispaniola, which was Haiti and the Dominican Republic today. That’s what he did. He took slaves. He mutilated. He murdered. And we’re gonna say ‘slash’ and honor him?”
“I gotta give the San Antonio Independent School District a little bit of credit because at least they added Indigenous Peoples’ Day along with it and that’s a step in the right direction,” Popovich pontificated. “But what the hell is Alamo Heights thinking? It’s Columbus Day, that’s why they’re off on Monday? Maybe there is something I am missing, and I am ignorant. But it makes me feel like they’re living in a phone booth. And they are educating our kids?”
“Columbus Day? And we’re gonna honor that?” he asked rhetorically. “It’s no knock on Italian Americans. That’s a silly argument. It’s like saying, ‘We should be proud of Hitler because we are German.’ It makes no sense. It’s about Columbus. It’s not about Italian-Americans. And so, there are a lot of states that have come out and scratched Columbus Day and made it Indigenous Peoples’ Day. But in our city, are we that backward that we have school districts that do that? I am amazed. Just amazed.”
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Here&#39;s Popovich&#39;s thoughts on Columbus Day, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sanantonio?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sanantonio</a> school districts that recognize Columbus Day <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nba?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nba</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/gospursgo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#gospursgo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nbatwitter?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nbatwitter</a> <a href="https://t.co/yC5AGeZok1">pic.twitter.com/yC5AGeZok1</a>
&mdash; JeffGSpursKENS5 (@JeffGSpursZone) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1446645766215307266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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In August 2020, sports journalist Jason Whitlock slammed Popovich for promoting the false “hands up, don’t shoot” narrative about Michael Brown.
Writing at <a href="https://www.outkick.com/gregg-popovich-lies-about-michael-brown-intentionally-promotes-racial-animus/">Outkick the Coverage</a>, Whitlock stated bluntly, “Popovich is not dumb. He’s intentionally promoting racial animus.” Whitlock wrote, “I know no longer pretend Michael Brown was an innocent victim of police brutality. The facts do not support that bogus narrative. These facts were made public more than four years ago.”
“So why did San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich spend three minutes Sunday <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2903815-gregg-popovich-talks-racial-injustice-on-anniversary-of-michael-browns-death">promoting</a> a Michael Brown narrative debunked by a black president, a black attorney general and colorblind facts?” Whitlock asked, adding, “Has someone or some organization asked Popovich to irresponsibly spew racial conspiracy theories? Racial unrest and violence have rocked this country for two months. Why would Popovich agitate an already tense situation with lies?”
The day after Trump’s inauguration Popovich <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2017/1/21/14348464/gregg-popovich-donald-trump-video-quotes-transcript-criticism">stated</a>, “I’d just feel better if somebody was in that position that showed the maturity and psychological and emotional level of somebody that was his age. It’s dangerous and it doesn’t do us any good.”
In May 2017, Popovich <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2017/5/14/15638134/gregg-popovich-donald-trump-game-show-spurs">doubled down</a>, saying:
<blockquote>But to this day I feel like there’s a dark cloud, a pall over the whole country. It’s got nothing to do with the Democrats losing the election. It’s got to do with the way one individual conducts himself. And that’s embarrassing. It’s dangerous to our institutions, and what we all stand for and what we expect the country to be. But for this individual, he’s in a game show. And everything that happens begins and ends with him. Not our people or our country; every time he talks about those things, it’s just a ruse. That’s just disingenuous, cynical and fake.</blockquote>

Gregg Popovich

NBA’s Popovich: Italian-Americans Honoring Columbus Like Being ‘Proud Of Hitler Because We Are German’

Adolf Hitler

Every year, the response to Columbus Day grows more contentious. Attitudes toward the holiday range from apathy to hate, and some now even argue that the holiday represents the evils of Western imperialism. Some states have canceled the celebration of Columbus altogether, and, according to one <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/12/us/indigenous-peoples-day-2020-states-trnd/index.html">report</a>, 130 cities no longer observe the holiday.
But while Columbus Day and monuments to the Italian explorer have fallen on hard times, celebrations of the day are still strong in some cities, particularly in those with citizens who have a strong connection to their Italian heritage.
One such city is Syracuse, New York, in large part thanks to the work of the <a href="https://columbusmonumentsyracuse.com/">local</a> Columbus Monument Corporation. This year, they expect thousands of attendants at their Columbus Day festivities, which included a Saturday mass and the Monday wreath-laying at the historic Syracuse Columbus monument.
Officially dedicated in 1934, Syracuse&#8217;s Columbus monument was sculpted in Florence and constructed with stone from Italy, according to Anthony Ilacqua, a member of the corporation who spoke with The Daily Wire.
<div id="attachment_293814" style="width: 490px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-293814" class="wp-image-293814 size-full" src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Sculptor-with-Monument-colorized-1.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="596" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2021/10/Sculptor-with-Monument-colorized-1.jpg 480w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2021/10/Sculptor-with-Monument-colorized-1-242x300.jpg 242w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2021/10/Sculptor-with-Monument-colorized-1-464x576.jpg 464w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" />Sculptor Renzo Baldi  with Monument, via Columbus Monument Corporation, Colorized.</div>
Ilacqua said that many people don’t understand the meaning of the monument or the connection many residents have to it. In reality, he said the monument was a large part of how Italian Americans who immigrated to the U.S. at the turn of the 20th century, like his grandfather, made cities like Syracuse home.
“It was an outgrowth of pride in their national heritage and their Italian identity and their love for this country. That’s really what it was about,” he explained.
Recently, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh (I-NY) <a href="https://www.syracuse.com/news/2021/09/messy-fight-over-columbus-statue-blurs-political-lines-as-syracuse-barrels-toward-mayoral-race.html">announced</a> that the statue would be removed. In response, the Monument Corporation has launched an effort to save the statue, which is located in the heart of downtown Syracuse, and was built and paid for by many residents&#8217; ancestors.
&#8220;This decision is based on the fact that we can honor our Italian American community without focusing on a statue that has become the source of division over decades and overshadowed the original intent of the monument,&#8221; Walsh said in a statement to The Daily Wire. &#8220;This space should be both a tribute to Italian Americans and a place of healing at which we celebrate our shared accomplishments.&#8221;
But Ilacqua argues that the monument shouldn&#8217;t be seen as divisive.
“This monument is very much a part of our family heritage. It wasn’t put up by unknown people in the past. We know who built it. We know who sculpted it, who raised the money,” Ilacqua said. “We know who put it up. It’s very much our monument. We take pride in it and celebrate it every year.”
In 1992, on the 500th anniversary of Columbus landing in the New World, the monument organization raised private funds to restore the statue. Some who were around for the original dedication, like Ilacqua’s father, also made it to the restoration.
<div id="attachment_294270" style="width: 647px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-294270" class="wp-image-294270 " src="https://www.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Columbus-Circle-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="637" height="358" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2021/10/Columbus-Circle-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2021/10/Columbus-Circle-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2021/10/Columbus-Circle-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2021/10/Columbus-Circle-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2021/10/Columbus-Circle.jpg 2019w" sizes="(max-width: 637px) 100vw, 637px" />Columbus Circle via Columbus Monument Corporation</div>
To this day, the monument still has a lot of meaning for Syracuse residents with Italian heritage. 
When Italy won the European soccer championship this past summer, there was a spontaneous celebration around the monument and in the fountain at the base of the statue.
But the monument, which the Monument Corporation says is protected by the Landmark Preservation Board and Public Art Commission, might still be removed if Mayor Walsh has his way. Last month, Walsh, who is facing an election in November, said that he plans to move forward with the removal of the statue.
Walsh&#8217;s plan includes designating the grounds where the monument stands as Heritage Park.
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“Syracuse is poised to create a space at Columbus Circle that honors our Italian American community and is welcoming and safe to all in our community,&#8221; he said. &#8220;On this holiday weekend, I offer my deepest respect to our Italian American neighbors and my sincere support to the many in our community for whom the statue creates pain and sorrow.&#8221;
&#8220;I’m firmly committed to proceeding on a path that is respectful to all and leads to healing in our community. Achieving this is consistent with our vision to make Syracuse a growing city that embraces diversity and creates opportunity for all,&#8221; he added.
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Though the battle over the statue has been seen as political by some, the Monument Corporation says that its coalition transcends politics, and includes those from across the political spectrum.
Efforts to remove the monument will not be able to continue until a legal judgment is rendered regarding whether or not Walsh can legally remove the monument.
“The truth is that statue doesn’t harm anyone,&#8221; said Ilacqua, who believes Walsh is surrendering to the mob. &#8220;It’s not about hate. It’s not about racism. It’s not about genocide. It’s not about all the terrible … things that they attribute to him. It’s about the Italian American community.&#8221;
He notes that the monument says more about Syracuse’s Italian American community than it does about Columbus.
“It was put there out of love and pride,” Ilacqua noted, “I don’t see how [taking] it down does anything but erase history for no reason. It belongs there. We’re proud of it, and we believe it should stay there.”
Choosing to focus on art, history, and heritage, the Monument Corporation wants people to understand the historic context of when the statue was erected. Their <a href="https://columbusmonumentsyracuse.com">website </a>encourages people help save the statue by signing petitions and even sending messages to Mayor Walsh. 
“The Italian immigrants that were there didn’t fly here. They came over on boats. That’s what happened at the turn of the century,” Ilacqua said. “They see Columbus, one of their countrymen from Genoa, who arrived in boats, explored the ocean, and came to a new world. How did they not identify that as heroic and brave?”

Columbus Monument Syracuse

‘It’s Not About Hate’: Syracuse Residents Stand Up For Historic Columbus Monument As Mayor Plans Removal

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