Controversial Columbus statue removed during BLM protests reinstated with 24hr security
The statue, which was meant to replace the one that was taken down three years ago, is being met with protests.
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After three years, a controversial Christopher Columbus statue is being unveiled in Rhode Island.
WPRI is reporting that former Providence mayor Joseph Paolino, who bought the statue from the city back in 2022, has moved the statue to its new home in Johnston.
The statue was removed back in 2020 in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests.
Johnston mayor Joseph Polisena Jr. supported the move and the re-dedication of the statue.
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Polisena said that he understood why people were protesting the controversial Columbus statue, but felt it was "unfair" for people to hold Columbus to a modern standard when he lived more than 500 years ago.
He also said that he was confident his constituents would respect his decision.
“We have a security system in place here. It has 24-hour monitoring and close to the police station,” he said.
“I don’t anticipate Johnston having the problems that Providence had.”
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Two protestors showed up to demonstrate against the re-dedication of the controversial Columbus statue.
However, they were quickly escorted off the property.
Most of the constituents were in favor of the statue going up, with many of them saying that Columbus's behavior was both a reminder of America's greatness and of the mistakes of its past.
No taxpayer dollars were expended in the re-dedication of the statue.
