Christopher Columbus statue deserves landmark status, Italian-American group says | am New York

“We don’t want anything to happen to the Christopher Columbus statue,” said Angelo Vivolo, president of the Columbus Heritage Coalition, adding that immigration of Italian-Americans would not have happened if Columbus hadn’t connected the two worlds. “It talks to us about courage, discovery, about all the positive things — the meting pot that Americans believe in.”

Source: Christopher Columbus statue deserves landmark status, Italian-American group says | am New York

Italian-Americans want to make Columbus statue a landmark

A coalition of Italian-American groups are trying to thwart Mayor de Blasio’s bid to alter the Christopher Columbus statue at Columbus Circle by asking a city commission landmark it.

Last month, Hizzoner said the statue would soon be joined by historical markers that tell the fuller story of the explorer, warts and all.

But that plan doesn’t sit well with members of the Italian-American community, who revere the explorer as a cultural icon.

Source: Italian-Americans want to make Columbus statue a landmark