Minnesota Report

Change is coming. The statute of Christopher Columbus on the northeast corner of the Capitol Complex across from the Judiciary Center always seemed oddly placed. Granted, when placed, St Paul was highly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church and St Paul Cathedral is clearly visible in the southern landscape view. Yesterday, the statute was pulled from its position with a rope by members of the American Indian Movement (AIM).

Already, there is a Wiki entry about it being toppled https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Christopher_Columbus_(Saint_Paul,_Minnesota)

Originally, the statute was commissioned by Christopher Columbus Memorial Association commemorating the supposed 1492 discovery and installed on October 12, 1931. It was celebrated with a large throng of Italian-Americans here in St Paul up through the Iron Range, but it is clear this constituency doesn’t retain the same political power of those days.

In spite of being credited with discovering America, we here in Minnesota know, as is evidenced on the west-side of the Capitol, in proximity to the Light Rail Station, the Vikings were here first in 1000 AD, as is evidenced from the Lief Erickson statue, and of course the indigenous people predate his journey.