Christopher Columbus statue debate rises as controversial statues fall across the country

Jun 11, 20200

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A decapitated statue of Christopher Columbus stands in Christopher Columbus Park in Boston, June 10, 2020. The statue's head, damaged overnight, was recovered by the Boston Police Department, as a movement to remove statues commemorating slavers and colonizers continues to sweep across the U.S. A decapitated statue of Christopher Columbus stands in Christopher Columbus Park in Boston, June 10, 2020. The statue's head, damaged overnight, was recovered by the Boston Police Department, as a movement to remove statues commemorating slavers and colonizers continues to sweep across the U.S.Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

As cities and organizations across the country continue to take down monuments, memorials and other symbols of hate, one controversial historical figure has come back into the spotlight: Christopher Columbus.

While the debate over the controversial European explorer reignited, some of his opponents have already taken bold action to his memorials.

On Tuesday night, a Columbus statue in Richmond, Virginia, was torn down by protesters, set on fire and then submerged into a lake, police said. Overnight Tuesday, another Columbus statue in Boston was decapitated, according to Boston police.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/christopher-columbus-statue-debate-rises-controversial-statues-fall/story?id=71172075