Court orders Philadelphia Columbus statue to be uncovered

A Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that Philadelphia must uncover a statue of Christopher Columbus that the city has been attempting to remove from a park due to racial injustice demonstrations.

Senior Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt ruled Friday that the City of Philadelphia's plywood box covering the statue must be removed after the Friends of Marconi Plaza filed a request for the cover to be removed, NBC Philadelphia reported.

"We are very disappointed in the Court's ruling," Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney's spokesperson Kevin Lessard said. "While we will respect this decision, we will also continue to explore our options for a way forward that allows Philadelphians to celebrate their heritage and culture while respecting the histories and circumstances of everyone's different backgrounds."

Friends of Marconi Plaza attorney George Bochetto praised the court's decision: "I am delighted that ... the Judges of the Commonwealth Court have boldly reaffirmed that the rule of law still matters. That we are not a society ruled by cancel culture mobs. That all ethnic groups can proudly protect and honor their diverse heritages."

Kenney said removing the statue was a public safety issue following the protests after the death of George Floyd in 2020.