Statement from City of Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora on Chambersburg Columbus Statue

July 7, 2020

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–The current national debate on racial justice has led to a long-overdue examination of how we honor our past, including our statues, monuments, and the names of our parks and schools. Our communities rightfully expect that the individuals we celebrate actually represent the principles of freedom and equality that we all hold dear.

The statue of Christopher Columbus, long held in the park of the same name, will be taken down and placed in storage. We’re grateful for the community input we’ve received on both sides of the issue, but what we know about Columbus simply makes his image a poor fit for a city that is as diverse as Trenton. We will continue to engage the community on where the statue should go and what the new name of the park will be. –City of Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora

Photos by: Brian McCarthy OnScene News

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