In a recent guest opinion, WISH CNY called for Syracuse to “finish what it started” by removing the historic Columbus Monument from downtown. On behalf of the Columbus Monument Corp., its hundreds of donors, and the thousands of Syracuse residents who support its preservation, we offer a different path forward for our city - one rooted in addition, education, and genuine inclusivity, rather than subtraction and erasure.
We acknowledge that the history of the Americas is undeniably complex. It is filled with both remarkable triumphs and devastating tragedies. However, dismantling a monument that holds deep historical and emotional significance for the Italian American community does not heal the wounds of the past; it merely creates new divisions in the present.
