The statue of Christopher Columbus in South Philadelphia’s Marconi Plaza has been covered by a plywood box for 2½ years —but now it has been freed after a court order.
From The Philadelphia Inquirer:
Complying with a court order, the City of Philadelphia late Sunday night removed the plywood box that has concealed the statue of Christopher Columbus in South Philadelphia’s Marconi Plaza for 2½ years.
With the aid of a cherry picker and several spotlights, workers disassembled the box around 9:30 p.m. to the jubilation of passing motorists on Broad Street who honked car horns and whistled. Some stopped to take pictures of the exposed statue.
About five to 10 onlookers gathered in a stiff, cold breeze to take in the latest chapter in a lengthy battle that began as soon as the statue was covered with plywood amid racial justice protests in June 2020 and subsequent conversations surrounding polarizing landmarks throughout the United States.
The Historical Commission had voted to remove the statue, and Italian American groups have fought to preserve it ever since.
More over at The Philadelphia Inquirer:
With the aid of a cherry picker and several spotlights, workers disassembled the box around 9:30 p.m. Passing motorists on Broad Street honked car horns and whistled in response, some stopping to take pictures of the exposed statue. https://t.co/IvErFyvMRV
— The Philadelphia Inquirer (@PhillyInquirer) December 12, 2022