Columbus statue vandalized in Detroit

Someone apparently isn’t a fan of Christopher Columbus on the holiday honoring the Italian explorer.

A statue of Columbus at Jefferson and Randolph was vandalized with what appears to be red paint and a hatchet to its head. A photo of the statute was posted Monday on Reddit. By afternoon, the hatchet was removed.

The city of Detroit will have the statue cleaned Tuesday, said Dan Austin, a spokesman for Mayor Mike Duggan’s office.

Detroit police found out about the vandalism Monday afternoon after media inquiries about the incident, Sgt. Cassandra Lewis said.

Lewis said she expects the general assignment unit to review cameras in the area as part of its investigation.

Columbus has drawn increasing criticism for being credited with discovering America. Some say he wasn’t the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean, that the federal holiday celebrates colonialism and is offensive to Native Americans.

The statue, made of bronze with a Travertine marble base, was created by Italian sculptor Augusto Rivalta, according city officials. It was dedicated in the explorer’s honor on Columbus Day in 1910.

cwilliams@detroitnews.com

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