We, the people of Belleville NJ, stand with our Italian American neighbors in their fight to keep the Christopher Columbus Monument. The monument, like many others across the state of NJ, was erected as an atonement for the brutal treatment of Italian Americans after they arrived as immigrants to these shores. It is a symbol of inclusion and represents the dangerous journey they undertook leaving their home country to start a new life in America. Many of these immigrants settled in Belleville NJ and they deserved to be honored and have the right to celebrate their culture. 

There is no legitimate government objective in removing the Columbus Monument and preventing Italian American residents from celebrating their culture and heritage. Belleville officials are under the duty to act to protect their residents from discriminatory animus especially when the laws protecting them are clearly established. Any individual, resident, or group that is requesting you to use your official position to deprive an ethnic group of their rights, privileges or immunities should cause alarm. Everyone has the right to celebrate their culture in Belleville NJ but nobody has the right to request an elimination of another culture. 

The Columbus Monument should NOT be removed and any individuals or groups that advertise the defacement, destruction or make open threats about the monument, should be financially liable for its repair and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.