City Begins To Board Up Christopher Columbus Statue In South Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Christopher Columbus statue at Marconi Plaza in South Philadelphia will be boarded up on Tuesday. The work will be done to prevent damage after days of tense standoffs at the site.
For days, people, some of them armed, say they have been guarding the statue. Others who want the statue taken down, have also shown up at Marconi Plaza, leading to a clash between both sides over the weekend.
Download The New And Improved CBS Philly App!
On Tuesday afternoon, Chopper 3 was over the statue where crews could be seen beginning to board it up.
Meanwhile, Mayor Jim Kenney has asked the Philadelphia Art Commission to initiate a public process to consider the statue's future.
A group of residents want the statue to stay while others want it gone, citing the explorer's record of slavery and genocide against Native Americans.