Name Pittsburgh Resident Action Comment Patrick Beckhorn
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Name Pittsburgh Action Comment Resident Patrick Beckhorn Yes Remove Columbus was a delusional racist slave owner who caused genocide, so why exalt him by erecting and protecting a large public monument to him? One would only do that if they were ignorant of history. Well, they might do it if they were ignorant of history, but they would also do it if they were a racist piece of shit... Rohit Kartan Yes Remove Emilia Farmerie-Rishel No Remove Ty Hinkle Yes Remove Karsen Shoger Yes Remove The Columbus statue glorifies the history of colonialism, which caused extreme amounts of harm to native peoples in America as well as the environment in America. It is time to let go of these relics that glorify a destructive history, filled with violence and death, as many other cities across America are doing. Keeping the Columbus statue broadcasts a clear message exalting the history of lack of care for humanity of colonists and imperialists. If we want to stand by the ideals of equity and social justice, removing this symbol of inequity and harm from our city. Daniel Galvin Yes Remove The Christopher Columbus statue in Shenley Park should be immediately removed with all expediency - which is why the process of replacement or alternation, and accompanying delays, is unacceptable as well. The fact that it has remained there this long is an embarrassment to Pittsburgh, and an insult to the native people whose land this was for thousands of years. For native people - including friends of mine whose viewpoints I greatly value - this is tantamount to a statue of Hitler in a Jewish neighborhood, or a monument commemorating the cross-Atlantic slave trade being erected in a black neighborhood. People should be ashamed it has taken this long to act. There is no real decision to be made here - no valid and contradictory viewpoints to be weighed. It is either action to remove the statue, continued public praise of genocide, or cowardice. Please act to remove this stain, and do so with utmost haste considering the gravity of this public embarrassment. Levon Ritter Yes Replace Replace the stair with an Italian American from Pittsburgh who has not committed war crimes, violent crimes, genocide, or sexual misconduct AND contributed to the arts, medicine, science, or another major field in a significant way. Rebecca Tasker Yes Remove Gregory Osgood Yes No Action Skylar Rella Yes Remove Madison Broadbelt Yes Replace Sabrina Sukhin Yes No Action It’s a beautiful statue on a beautiful stretch of street that I frequently walk past. It’s a part of history. Rachel Yes Replace I strongly urge the City of Pittsburgh to replace this statue. Why keep it up to revere the shameful parts of our history? We can learn, reflect, and remember our mistakes throughout history without honoring or revering people who contributed to what can be considered a genocide. I would like to see it replaced by a Black female historical figure or a work of art commissioned by a Black female or non-binary Pittsburgh artist. A mistake was made in the selection of the artist who painted the Ellsworth Avenue gay pride mural this past year, please select an artist or sculptor FROM the community being represented by a new statue to create a piece to replace the current statue. Thank you for your consideration. Patrick Healy Yes Remove No amount of vague cultural pride certain Italian-Americans feel around a statue of Christopher Columbus outweighs the embarrassment and anger held by Pittsburghers who understand the reality of Columbus' role in the genocide of indigenous people. The statue's original purpose is irrelevant; it currently exists as a monument to white supremacy, which we cannot afford to maintain. Jason Ficorilli Yes Replace Put a pretty animal there instead Lauren Yes Remove There is no need for this monument to still be present in the City of Pittsburgh in 2020. It should be removed first and immediately, with plans of a replacement to follow at a later time. Natalie Pyle Yes Remove Or replace. Why have a statue of someone who caused so much harm and violence when we could celebrate an amazing person who fought for justice, or even a statue of a great Pittsburgher Aden Halpern Yes Remove Taxpayer dollars should not go towards preserving the image of someone personal responsible for the genocide of the native peoples of this last. Lyss Stainer Yes Remove Eliana Yes Remove Robin Yes Remove Shreyas Vasudevan No Remove It is imperative to remove the Christopher Columbus statue. As a former resident of Oakland, it would bring me great pride knowing that my community no longer bears such a scar, by honoring a truly evil mad who’s egregious history shall be glorified no longer. In a time when the entire country is waking up to the racial injustices that have perpetuated for so long, it is imperative to remove the monument to a man that started the centuries of white supremacy on this land. It would be wonderful to replace this statue with various other commemorations of honorable italian-Americans, or to use this as an opportunity to properly honor the indigenous people who originally lived in Pittsburgh before and during European colonization. Regardless of what is done with the space of where the statue is now, it is most important to get rid of such a horrid monument in our wonderful city. Carolina Oros Yes Remove Prem Rajgopal Yes Remove Erin Kelly Yes Replace Peter Gibson Yes Remove Tara Kaloz Yes Replace It is important to learn from history—to learn, listen, and make valuable changes. It’s important to represent a legacy of doing the most right thing, and taking action when needed or presented with an opportunity to do so. Replacing the Christopher Columbus statue with a more inclusive and symbolic statue is a relatively small, but impactful, action we can take now. This action shows that we are learning, we are listening, and we are considering all the facts in order to do what is good for the community. Replacing the statue is more than a physical act. It is a symbolic gesture that we, as a community, are willing to take the steps to help all our neighbors feel welcome and at home. It is a gesture that speaks volumes. It shows kindness. It shows consideration and inclusivity. And it shows that we are willing to look at our histories, acknowledge some hard truths, and take control of the narrative. It shows we are willing (and capable) to make changes, small and grand, that tell the community we care—that we have heart and that we want to tell a better story moving forward. Dan Yes Alter Rather than removing historic artifacts where the subject had ties to racial injustice, create a national moniker, medallion or some kind of a plaque that denotes affiliation with this dark side of our Nation’s history. However, this solution should be a [universal] consistent solution applied to statues, bridges, street signs, buildings, etc., across the country. The marking should also include unique serial numbers whereby the public can access a national data base, and by serial number, read the back story that is a detailed record of their association/role in racial injustice. Jose Oros Yes Replace Daniel Stock Yes Replace Shannon D Yes Replace Aaron L Mackler Yes Remove Because the statue causes pain for some people. And would be better in a less public place. Ryan O Yes No Action Joel Mackler Yes Replace Giuseppe Garibaldi Lorraine Mackler Yes Remove While the statue is a magnificent work of art, it ought not to Newman be displayed on City-owned property, knowing what we now know about Columbus and his enslavement and genocide of native populations. It was given with good intentions, but is now a hate symbol. As a Jew, I am also angry to learn that the funds for Columbus's two voyages were paid for with funds expropriated from the expelled Jews of Spain. Only three days before Columbus's departure was the deadline for all Jews to leave Spain (the Alhambra declaration), which had been their home for over 1500 years. Further, Columbus's trip was for the glory and enrichment of Spain and Ferdinand and Isabella, who instigated the Inquisition in Spain infamous for the severity of its torture and persecution of both Jews and Muslims. I am sympathetic to Italian-Americans who claim Columbus as an important symbol of belonging in this country and who, too, have endured great persecution, even lynching, and discrimination. However, the severe pain to part of our society suggests that Italian-Americans might have to forego this particular sculpture. Perhaps the Columbus sculpture can be given a permanent home on private property. And perhaps, the City can erect another, more worthy, monument to contributions of Italian-Americans on public property. Dori Oshlag Yes No Action Keep statue intact, do not remove. Ruchi Yes Remove Andy No Replace While Christopher Columbus may play an important part in the history of the Western Hemisphere, he was also a brutal colonizer who brought death and disease to many of the places he visited. Learning his place is fine, but in today’s world Columbus is not a figure who should be venerated with a statue. He’s not much of hero and was funded by the Spanish crown, anyway. I would much prefer to see the statue removed and replaced with something that actually represents one or several Pittsburgh natives. Sean Bittner Yes Replace Morgan Gilmer Yes Replace Columbus’s legacy is one of colonialism and genocide.