ST,PAUL, Minn. — The four Republicans in the Minnesota Congressional delegation, including Brad Finstad, have inserted themselves into the controversial removal of a Christoher Columbus statue at the State Capitol five years ago. Although all four Republicans are Caucasian and lockstep supporters of President Trump, it was unclear whether they were motivated by Trump’s racist project to diminish any aboriginal role in U.S. history. The delegation delivered its letter to Governor Tim Walz for information on where the statue is now. Walz has not responded. Walz, a Democrat, has been a steady supporter of indigenous causes. About 134,000 Minnesotans identify themselves as American Indian. The GOP letter as delivered to Walz on Minnesota’s Indigenous Peoples Day, which Trump insists be called Columbus Day. The GOP letter:
“While we recognize that Christopher Columbus has become a subject of debate in recent years, it is important to remember the significance his legacy holds for generations of Italian Americans.”
The letter argued that the 10-foot statue had commemorated the contributions of Italian-Americans and “the spirit of exploration that shaped early American history.” The letter suggests the disappearance of the statute is an insult to Italian-Americans. The facts, however, are:
> Columbus arrived in the Caribbean, not the continental United States, which didn’t come into being until 300 years later.
> Although Italian by birth, Columbus claimed what’s now known as the Western Hemisphere for Spain, whose royalty had financed his expedition.
> No Italian culture connection to the United States occurred until the first waves of Italian immigrants in the mid-1800s.
> Any affinity between latter generations of Italian immigrants and Columbus is faint at best: Christopher who?”
Statue profile
The statue, created by Italian American Carlo Brioschi was erected on the state Capitol grounds in 1931. In 2020, after the murder of a black man, George Floyd, by a white policeman, the Columbus statue was brought down by racial protesters, some from the American Indian movement. They saw the statue as a symbol of white supremacy. At the time, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, the nation’s highest elected Native woman, said she was pleased to see the statue gone.
Earlier: Anti-Columbus activist charged
Earlier: Indians topple Columbus statue
GOP’s Columbus champions. Signatories: Tom Emmer, from northern suburbs; Brad Finstad, from southern counties; Michelle Fischbach, from western counties; and Pete Stauber, from the Arrowhead.
Toppled face down. Crews removed the pieces after protesters pulled the statue off its pedestal. Where now?