"The sculpture was erected outside the Eisenhower Executive Office building on White House grounds, standing on a plinth that calls Columbus the 'Discoverer of America.'"
"Historical records show that Columbus abused, enslaved, and killed Native people in mass numbers and contributed to the spread of diseases that decimated Indigenous groups."
"Within days of its removal during a July 4, 2020, protest, local Italian American coalition leaders hired divers to retrieve the statue's pieces from the harbor."
"The move reinforces Trump's proclamations to reinstate Columbus Day - despite its continued status as a federal holiday - and maintain the Genoese voyager's identity as a point of pride for the Italian American community."
A replica of a Christopher Columbus statue has been installed outside the Eisenhower Executive Office building on the White House grounds. This installation follows President Trump's commitment to reinstating Columbus Day and highlights Columbus's significance to the Italian American community. The original statue was toppled during protests in 2020, which addressed Columbus's violent legacy against Native people. The new statue stands on a plinth that labels Columbus as the 'Discoverer of America.'
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