On Tuesday, a judge ordered the public display of a controversial statute by Christopher Columbus, thereby ruling against Philadelphia.
Judge Paula Patrick of the General Court of Appeals overturned the Licensing and Inspection Commission’s decision last September to uphold the Philadelphia History Commission’s decision to remove the statue. Philadelphia Inquirer.
In a seven-page ruling, Patrick stated that the city’s decision to demolish the statue, which is currently located in Piazza Marconi but hidden in a box to prevent vandalism, was made without any “legal basis.” of.
According to reports, the judge wrote in her decision: “How Philadelphia removed the statue without any legal basis, which puzzled the court.” “The entire argument and case in the city has no legal basis. “
Last year, the mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, argued that allowing the statue to continue to appear in public view could endanger public safety. After mass protests triggered by deaths, the display of statues has become a particularly controversial issue. George Freud, Which led to political conflict, seeing those who wanted it canceled the confrontation with those who insisted on keeping it.
Patrick, who calls himself the “Liberal Republican Candidate” Democratic Party I was most afraid of losing my seat in Pennsylvania” Supreme Court Earlier this year, the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to justify the public safety issue. She called the past confrontation with statues “isolated.” The city is considering appealing the ruling.
“Although we are very disappointed with the ruling, we are now reviewing it and exploring all possible options-including possible appeals,” Kenny’s deputy communications director Kevin Lessard said in a statement Weekly newspaper“The statue remains in Piazza Marconi and will continue to be fixed in the existing box.”
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In recent years, the statue of Columbus has been controversial because it is believed that the Italian explorer is a symbol and reminder of the oppression and genocide faced by indigenous peoples in North America and the Caribbean after European colonization.
Others, often including Italian Americans, believe that the monument and the tribute to Columbus represent a harmless celebration of Italian American heritage.
Last year, dozens of Columbus statues across the United States were either ordered to be demolished by local officials or were severely damaged or destroyed by protesters. Due to a lawsuit filed by the Group of Friends of Marconi Plaza, it was decided to allow the statue to stand in Philadelphia.
Rich Cedrone, chairman of Friends of Plaza Marconi, told WPVI that the organization “still doesn’t believe [the statue] Represents anything that opposes any other culture. “The lawyer representing the organization, George Bochetto, told Inquirer He may ask Patrick to order the removal of the box around the statue as early as Wednesday.
