The Italian American community has lived in Stamford, shoulder to shoulder, with all other groups for generations. We have worked together at places like Pitney Bowes, Machletts and Clairol and our children have gone to the same schools together for years.

The statue of Christopher Columbus has been in Columbus Park since October 1960, almost 60 years, and there has never been a claim of racism from any group in all those years and, while he was not a perfect person, his landing on the island of San Salvador, and the subsequent formation of the United States has been called one of the most significant events in history. "To the world he gave a world".

The Italian American community of Stamford will always stand against racism and unnecessary police violence especially against the most marginalized of us but what happens to a statue of someone who lived over 500 years ago will not help us solve these immediate problems. We the undersigned ask that everything be done by groups, the police and local elected officials to preserve and protect the Christopher Columbus monument from any malicious damage by misguided individuals.

Please add your name to: KEEP COLUMBUS IN COLUMBUS PARK