Columbus Statue Defaced With "Genocide" Graffiti: Patch PM

Today is Tuesday, June 23.

The good news today is that Massachusetts is one of just three states said to be "on track" to contain COVID-19, along with New York and New Jersey. A team researchers calling itself Covid Act Now attributes this to the low infection rate, widespread testing, aggressive contact tracing program and large supply of intensive-care beds.

During his daily media briefing, however, Gov. Charlie Baker cautioned against complacency, saying, ""COVID-19 will not take a summer vacation."

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Vandals spray-painted the word "genocide" on the statue of Christopher Columbus in Worcester Monday night, but crews were out Tuesday morning power-washing it clean.

Columbus statues and memorials elsewhere in the country have been targeted by those who claim the explorer committed genocide against the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, and authorities in some communities have removed them as a result of popular demand.

But as recently as December, the Worcester City Council voted to reaffirm the city's commitment to celebrating Columbus Day after a request from the Sons of Italy.

The school committee in Walpole has decided it's time to change the name of the district's athletic teams, now called the Rebels.

Although the district had discontinued the use of the Confederate flag in the 1990s as part of a "rebranding" effort, public sentiment suggested the effort hadn't gone far enough. Hundreds of residents had signed a petition demanding the change and spoke at a recent public forum on the topic.

RELATED: Thousands Sign Petition To Change Tewksbury High School Mascot

Police in Revere are investigating as possible hate crime the painting of swastikas and "white power" slogans on a Muslim woman's car.

The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA) is offering a $1,000 reward for information about the incident as well.

The owner of the car issued a statement through the group saying she uses the car to deliver medical supplies to patients in their homes.

"You hurt me with your hate, but you also hurt the sick people I am trying to take care of," she said.

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