As Mayor Rolland Marvin stated in 1934 of the Columbus Monument, "The city of Syracuse may well count this memorial among its finest possessions. And let us hope this accomplishment, this evidence of community spirit and team work will prove to be symbolic of the spirit ... in all future enterprises for the advancement and good of our city."

Erasing our history by removal of historic monuments does nothing to end systemic racism.  The only achievement sustained by removing monuments such as The Columbus Monument is the wiping away of our great country's past and the telling of how we arrived where we are today.

We all learn from the past, to erase the past only weakens us as a nation and a society.

Protect and preserve this monument, and others like it, or lose our society and our country.