THANK YOU! 200 signatures in just a few days. Bye Columbus!
Thank you all so much for reading, signing, and sharing our petition calling for the removal of the Christopher Columbus monument on Waltham Common. We received over 200 signatures in just a few days! Far fewer people made the decision to put that monument up.
Next steps? Keep sharing and encouraging others to sign! And for those here in Waltham, we will be writing letters to our city councilors, and would love your help. Below please see an example of a letter that you can copy or edit. There is also a list of city councilor's contact info (if you're not sure which Ward you live in, check out Waltham's Ward + Precinct Map: https://bit.ly/2FYAvh4
We're so grateful for all of your support, and we'll never stop pushing to make our city a better community.
-- Citizen Bee
(keep in touch @CitizenBee1)
Dear Councillor [Name],
I am writing in support of the removal of the Christopher Columbus monument on Waltham Common. The decision to install this monument was not made by a majority of Waltham citizens or through any kind of public vote, and yet it fills our public space. Columbus has no connection to local history; he never even came to the United States. It is an undisputed historical fact, however, that he enslaved people in the Americas and that he claimed land for Spain, not Italy. There are other historical figures that could truly honor the remarkable contributions Italians and Italian-Americans have made to our country and communities. This monument to Columbus does not preserve American history, but instead upholds outdated myths and hurts our community members.
Along with my fellow Waltham citizens, I believe that this monument can be removed peacefully. Please take action by October 12, 2020.
Thank you,
[Your name]
Council President: Paul J. Brasco
pbrasco@brascofuneralhome.com
Council Vice President: Kathleen McMenimen
kmcmenimen@city.waltham.ma.us
Councilor at Large: Patrick O'Brien
pobrien@city.waltham.ma.us
Councilor at Large: Thomas M. Stanley
thomas.stanley@mahouse.gov
Councilor at Large: Randall LeBlanc
rleblanc@city.waltham.ma.us
Councilor at Large: Carlos Vidal
cvidal@city.waltham.ma.us
Ward 1: Anthony LaFaucialafauci@city.waltham.ma.us
Ward 2: Caren Dunn
cdunn@city.waltham.ma.us
Ward 3: George Darcy
councilw3@city.waltham.ma.us
Ward 4: John McLaughlin
jmclaughlin@city.waltham.ma.us
Ward 5: Joseph P. LaCava
jlacava@city.waltham.ma.us
Ward 6: Sean Durkee
sdurkee@city.waltham.ma.us
Ward 7: Kristine A. Mackin
kmackin@city.waltham.ma.us
Ward 8: Cathyann Harris
charris@city.waltham.ma.us
Ward 9: Jonathan Paz
jpaz@city.waltham.ma.us