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Protesters in Baltimore pull down statue of Christopher Columbus, throw it into harbor

Posted at 10:21 PM, Jul 04, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-05 23:18:31-04

BALTIMORE -- Baltimore protesters have pulled down a statue of Christopher Columbus and thrown it into the city’s Inner Harbor.

Demonstrators on Saturday night used ropes to topple the monument in the Little Italy neighborhood, news outlets reported.

Baltimore Police stated, "we have no new updates to provide at this time."

In a statement, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said on Twitter:

"While we welcome peaceful protests and constructive dialogue on whether and how to put certain monuments in context or move them to museums through a legal process, lawlessness, vandalism, and destruction of public property is completely unacceptable. That is the antithesis of democracy and should be condemned by everyone, regardless of their politics."

Protesters mobilized by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police have called for the removal of statues of Columbus, among others.

They say the Italian explorer is responsible for the genocide and exploitation of native peoples in the Americas.

Statues of Columbus have also been toppled or vandalized in cities such as Miami; Richmond, Virginia; St. Paul, Minnesota, and Boston, where one was decapitated.