I’m writing to call attention to the insensitivity displayed by the statue at the center of Columbus Circle. Columbus Circle is located in downtown Syracuse at the intersection of Onondaga Avenue, East Jefferson Street and Montgomery Street. It was formerly known as Library Circle and St. Mary’s Circle before being redesigned by Syracuse University alum Dwight James Baum in 1934. This was when the statue, made by Lorenzo Baldo, was added.  It depicts Columbus standing on top of a pillar detailed with masks of indigenous people.

Columbus is a controversial figure, especially in regards to his actions in the pre-European Caribbean region. There, he enslaved many indigenous peoples of the region as his own servants and also shipped thousands of people back to Spain. Columbus’ actions effectively caused the extinction of the Taíno people on the island of Hispaniola. Not only did he and his company directly kill countless individuals, but they also introduced new diseases to the area, which wiped out people, plants and animals.

Rather than honoring a controversial figure such as Columbus, we should be celebrating the indigenous people who our own neighbors here. Instead of having their culture represented by masks under Columbus’ feet, maybe we should give them a chance to design a statue that they feel represents their culture or relationship to the area of Syracuse.

The Onondaga Nation never gave up their land. It was taken through a series of illegitimate treaties. Syracuse is located within their traditional territory, and we should respect the fact that it is, and always has been, their land. We can help by being more aware and conscious of these kinds of works in our towns and cities. Decolonization is the process of removing markers of colonialism in an effort to help indigenous nations re-establish their culture.  Decolonizing monuments, such as Columbus Circle, is an important step in strengthening the relationship between indigenous and non-native communities.

Sincerely,

Hollis Abbott, SUNY-ESF, Class of 2018