Description:
Two statues of Christopher Columbus were removed from Chicago
neighborhoods.One was hoisted off its pedestal in a park in Downtown
Chicago in the dead of night.Hours later another statue was removed
from the Little Italy neighborhood after it was vandalized.
The statues have become a lightning rod issue for protestors who last
week pelted cops with bricks and frozen water bottles.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot says their removal is temporary because the protests
over them became unsafe.
Transcription:
There goes Christopher Columbus. The statue of the explorer who discovered the
New World was hoisted off its pedestal in a park in downtown Chicago. The statue
has been a lightning rod for protesters who last week pelted cops with bricks and
frozen water bottles in an epic battle that shocked America.
Protesters: Who do you serve? Who do you protect?
Reporter:Today, on the orders of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the statue was removed in
the dead of night, 3:00 a.m. Two hours later, a second Columbus statue, covered
with graffiti, was removed from Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood.
The mayor says the statues have been temporarily removed until further notice
because of demonstrations that became unsafe for both protesters and police.
Lightfoot herself came under siege at her own house, as a huge crowd demanded
the defunding of police. It's part of a new trend, bringing protests to the homes
of big city mayors.
Protesters: Defund the police!
Reporter: It's happened in L.A., Seattle, Oakland and New York City when a
caravan of cars drove past the mayor's official residence.
And in the city of Portland, more episodes of fury as protestors faced off against
law enforcement for the 57th night.
The White house: Tragically, three federal
officers were likely left permanently blinded by the rioters using lasers pointed
directly at their eyes.
Questions:
1. Who is Christopher Columbus?
2. For what reason the statues were removed?
3. Detail the new trend of protest happening around the US.