Statue of Columbus taken down in Camden, New Jersey

A New Jersey city near Philadelphia has taken down a statue of Christopher Columbus, joining others across the country.

The city of Camden released a statement on Thursday (June 11) evening, calling the statue in Farnham Park a controversial symbol that has long pained residents of the community. Protesters mobilized by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police have called for the removal of statues of Columbus. They hold the Italian explorer responsible for the genocide and exploitation of the natives of America.

Video from local news outlets showed the statue coming down Thursday night. The city’s statement says that a plan to reexamine these outdated symbols of racial division and injustices is overdue. The majority of Camden residents are people of color.

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Statues of Columbus have also been toppled or vandalized in cities such as Miami; Richmond, Virginia; St. Paul, Minnesota, and Boston, where one was decapitated.