Two statues of Christopher Columbus taken down in ChicagoJuly 25, 2020 - 10:50 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Two statues of Christopher Columbus were taken down in Chicago early Friday, July 24 amid a reckoning in the United States about the Italian explorer's controversial role in the history of the Americas, AFP reports. The statue in the city's Grant Park -- cloaked in plastic -- came down in the early hours as small groups of onlookers watched. "It feels great seeing the statue come down," one resident, Brenda Armenta, told AFP. A second statue of the navigator long hailed as the so-called discoverer of "The New World" came down in Arrigo Park, on the edge of Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood. Statues of Columbus and other figures connected to colonialism and slavery have been torn from their plinths in the United States and around the world in the wake of protests sparked by the May killing in police custody of George Floyd, an unarmed African American, in Minneapolis. The office of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement carried by local media that the statues had been "temporarily removed... until further notice" at her direction. The move "comes in response to demonstrations that became unsafe for both protesters and police, as well as efforts by individuals to independently pull the Grant Park statue down in an extremely dangerous manner," it said. "This step is about an effort to protect public safety and to preserve a safe space for an inclusive and democratic public dialogue about our city's symbols." The legacy of Columbus, who reached the Americas in 1492, has been revisited with the benefit of hindsight over the brutal treatment of native Americans by European colonizers. Statues of Columbus have been removed in other cities such as Baltimore, Boston and San Francisco. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015. Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. “By Your Side”: IDBank's new support program for displaced Artsakh citizens IDBank is launching a long-term social support program for forcibly displaced Artsakh residents. The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. |