COLUMBUS — The bronze statue of Christopher Columbus that has been on the Ohio Statehouse grounds since 1992 remains under fire from critics who claim it is a symbol of oppression.
It stands atop a granite platform in a tree lined shady spot near the southwest corner of the Statehouse.
Sen. Hearcel Craig, D-Columbus, in a written statement said the statue has got to go. He noted that the city of Columbus recently removed the 22-foot bronze statue of Columbus from outside city hall and Columbus State Community College took down a large stone sculpture of Columbus in response to complaints from social justice advocates.
“We must remove our city’s remaining Christopher Columbus statue to further demonstrate our commitment to combatting the lingering racism and oppression resulting from his legacy,” Craig said.
Craig is a member of the state’s Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board which controls the Statehouse building and grounds. The board voted this week to develop a policy for removal of monuments on the Statehouse grounds that mirrors the policy for adding one.
It includes a five year process with multiple reviews from staff and the public to determine if the Statehouse is a fitting place for a monument to be added. Likewise, the new policy would take five years for anything to be removed.
Craig said five years to remove the Columbus statue is too long. “Citizens around Ohio do not condone divisiveness and egregious injustice, and do not want to see symbols of oppression on their public properties,” Craig said.
The Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, Rep. Larry Householder, R-Glenford, said he personally believes the statue of Columbus should stay put. “Nobody’s perfect. I always look at the historical figures in terms of their accomplishments,” Householder said.
Given the board’s policy-in-the-making, the statue will likely remain on the Statehouse grounds for five years or more. A formal request to have it removed is expected to be submitted at some point in the future.
Cox Media Group
