A crane removes the Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park from its plinth, Friday, July 24, 2020, in Chicago. (Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times/Chicago Sun-Times via AP)
CHICAGO (AP) — A statue of Christopher Columbus in downtown Chicago’s Grant Park was taken down early Friday, a week after protesters trying to topple the monument to the Italian explorer clashed with police.
Crews used a large crane to remove the statue from its pedestal as a small crowd gathered to watch. Hours later, a second statue of Columbus was also removed from Arrigo Park in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood.
The Associated Press sent an email Friday seeking comment from Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office. The statues’ removal come amid a plan by President Donald Trump to dispatch federal law enforcement agents to the city to respond to gun violence.
