De Blasio's Wife To Decide Fate of Washington and Jefferson Statues in New York
New York City's first lady Chirlane McCray
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New York City's first lady Chirlane McCray, and wife of Mayor Bill de Blasio will decide the fate of the city's statues commemorating two of the nation's Founding Fathers.
The Mayor backed his decision to promote his wife's to a city commission focused on "racial justice and reconciliation" that will decide whether statues of Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson should be removed.
“This is exactly the kind of thing that this new commissions needs to examine,” de Blasio told reporters.
“I think it is the time to evaluate the entire look and feel of this city, and a commission that’s focused on justice and reconciliation can really think about a bigger approach."
"I’m going to charge them with that task.”
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McCray has already overseen a task force to consider building new statues throughout the city.
But McCray faced backlash in 2017 for her commission's decision to forego building a statue for Italian American nun Mother Cabrini.
The Democratic mayor said the commission was the "right" way to move forward for the city, despite push back from reporters.
“I don’t have a foregone conclusion for you now as to what names should be kept, what names should be changed,” he added.
Orthodox Jews defy De Blasio order, cut locks on closed NYC park to let children play
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“But I think this commission is the right way to do it.”
The news comes after Rioters tore down a statue of George Washington in Portland before draping it in a burning American flag.
A group of rioters converged on NE Sandy Boulevard, and NE 57th Avenue at around 10 p.m.KOIN News reported that some of the rioters wrapped the statue’s head in an American flag before setting it on fire.
The group then pulled the statue to the ground before fleeing the scene.
Last week, Black Lives Matter rioters also toppled the historic Christopher Columbus statue in Minneapolis.
