Crime
Columbus statue vandalized once again in Byrd Park
The monument was defaced in the overnight hours late Thursday night or early Friday morning.
A statue honoring Christopher Columbus in Byrd Park has been vandalized just a year after taggers defaced the bronze figure.
Reader Andrew Lester sent us this photo of the defaced monument, tagged with orange spray paint. No word on when the incident occurred, but it would seem it happened late Thursday night or early Friday morning.
The city’s Public Works Department removed the paint from the circa-1927 statue in 2015; it will likely be responsible for cleanup once again.
The incident follows the defacing of several Confederate monuments on Monument Avenue over the past year, stirring conversation about the role the monuments play and whether they should be presented with plaques that put them in a contemporary context or even removed altogether.
If you have any information on the vandalism, contact Richmond Police. We’ll continue to follow this story.
