Last month the Providence Journal published an article about the Christopher Columbus statue in Johnston, Rhode Island. Like so many other statues, this one was removed from its original home – in this case Providence – in 2020 by bullies and bigots determined to ensure that people who are different from the norm cannot feel welcome in public spaces.
However, in 2023, the statue found a new home in Johnston. The article gives a two-year update on the statue and describes it as a “fixture in Johnston’s Columbus Day celebrations.” Specifically, a food truck event now takes place on Columbus Day, surrounding the statue in Johnston Memorial Park.
Mayor Joseph Polisena said of Columbus: “I think it’s important world history. When people are like, ‘Oh, you know he did these horrible things?’ I say, ‘Yes, I’m not saying he didn’t.’ But my whole thing is that you have to judge people based on the time they were in.”
The article also notes these heartwarming details: “A cohort of local businesses and individuals helped to transport the 6,000-pound statue and outfit it with security equipment. A local labor union helped move it, a fencing company installed a fence around it for free and a solar-powered security camera with a live video feed to the police station was donated, according to Polisena. He estimated that all the donations and labor had a combined value of more than $10,000.”
Read the full article here.