PHILADELPHIA — The plywood box enclosing the statue of Christopher Columbus in South Philadelphia’s Marconi Park must be removed by the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled Friday.
It’s the latest development in the lengthy battle over the statue. It became a flash point and was covered with plywood amid racial justice protests in June 2020, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Then the Historical Commission voted to remove the statue, and the legal fight began. Italian American groups have fought to preserve the statue.
According to Friday’s ruling, the city of Philadelphia is directed to remove the plywood structure, reversing a 2021 decision that allowed the city to keep the box standing. Commonwealth President Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt handed down Friday’s decision.
