'Remove Columbus Statue' At Statehouse, Ohio Lawmaker Says

COLUMBUS, OH — A statue of Christopher Columbus, which sits outside the Ohio Statehouse, could soon be the subject of debate among legislators.

State Rep. Janine Boyd, from Cleveland Heights, is calling on her peers to consider having the statue removed. Similar statues of Columbus have been taken down at Columbus City Hall and Columbus State Community College.

“There is a long overdue racial reckoning occurring all over the country as Americans are finally beginning to acknowledge the sins of the past. Removal of this statue is not erasing history, but rather choosing not to celebrate and idolize those who do not deserve the public’s admiration. Christopher Columbus should never have been heralded as a hero and put up on a pedestal,” said Boyd.

Boyd called on the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board Chair Speaker Larry Householder to consider a special meeting to discuss removing the statue. The board is not scheduled to meet until July 16, but Boyd said the discussion cannot wait.

"This statue on the statehouse grounds represents a dark legacy of slavery, oppression, exploitation and genocide. To people of color, it is a history still affecting our everyday lives as racism continues to pervade this country," Boyd said.

Statues of Christopher Columbus have also been removed from prominent positions at statehouses in Minnesota and California.