BLM Rioters Tear Down 'Immigrant Built' Christopher Columbus Statue
10-foot tall statue pulled from its base by BLM protesters
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Black Lives Matter rioters have torn down the historic Christopher Columbus statue in Minneapolis as nationwide protests saw a wave of iconic statues destroyed.
But the Columbus statue was sculpted by an Italian immigrant and was presented as a gift from Minnesota’s Italian-Americans
On Wednesday, the bronze statue, which is 10-foot tall was pulled from its base by protesters outside the state Capitol.
The news comes as protests sweep the US following the death of George Floyd.
Rioters are now targeting any statue they deem "offensive."
According to a Minneapolis government web page:
“The 10-foot tall bronze sculpture of Christopher Columbus was dedicated on October 12, 1931, and was presented as a gift from Minnesota’s Italian-Americans."
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"The sculpture sits on a red granite base embellished with carvings of sea shells and fish around the top and on either sides are eagles with spread wings atop globe-shaped spheres. Sculptor: Carlo Brioschi, dedicated on October 12, 1931; restoration and preservation efforts in 1992.”
The MinnPost reported that Brioschi “was an Italian-born and trained sculptor who’d emigrated to the United States in 1899 – first to New York, where he’d worked on Grand Central Station, and then to St. Paul 10 years later.”
Rioters in Virginia also tore down a Christopher Columbus statue this week.
WATCH:
BREAKING: Protesters have toppled the Christopher Columbus statue at the Minnesota State Capitol. @WCCO pic.twitter.com/uCpZY1zoA8
— Nick Streiff (@nickstreiff) June 10, 2020
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Last week in the UK, a famous memorial statue of Sir. Rioters also vandalized Winston Churchill.
The former British prime minister, who led his country to victory over Nazi Germany during World War II, was decimated amid protests.
The attack coincided with the 76th anniversary of D-Day - the joint Anglo-American invasion of occupied France.
One BLM protester falsely accused Churchill of "enslaving people" and claimed the celebrated ex-PM only fought the Nazis to protect the empire - not for "black people or for people of color or for people of anything."
"I tagged up the statue of Churchill because he's a confirmed racist."
"He fought the Nazis to protect the Commonwealth from invasion - he didn't do it for black people or for people of color or for people of anything."
Interview with the protestor/defacer who ‘tagged’ the Churchill statue on Parliament square. pic.twitter.com/YgceMnfeqR
— Vinnie O'Dowd (@VinnieoDowd) June 7, 2020
