Whereas, a bust of Christopher Columbus was erected on Lancaster County property in 1992 on the 500th anniversary of the lost sailor’s discovery of the New World.

Whereas, the bust was the private desire of Antonio Palumbo, an Italian immigrant and naturalized US citizen who sought to give back something of his heritage to his adopted America.  And that a Committee called the Columbus Project was formed which included City & County Officials, City educators, private businesses, and the Community Gallery of Lancaster, who were tasked to fulfill Mr. Palumbo’s desire.

Whereas, the Americas were not a New World and neither did the nation of Italy exist during the time of Christopher Columbus.

Whereas, the popular myth of Christopher Columbus ignores the atrocities committed on the indigenous peoples of the Americas and instead creates an altered history, which overlooks the genocide of indigenous peoples resulting from the colonization of the Americas.  And that this myth is perpetuated by monuments which do not reveal the whole truth of the history of the Americas.

Therefore, we the signers of this petition call on the Lancaster County Commissioners to remove the bust of Christopher Columbus located on Lenox Lane.