Columbus statue toppled overnight by protesters in Denver

Activists in Denver pulled down a statue honoring Christopher Columbus late Thursday evening.

Denver police department spokesman Doug Schepman told The Colorado Sun that the incident, video of which was posted on Twitter, occurred shortly after 11 p.m.

#denverprotests #dpdactivity #ALF #DefundDenverPD #wearetired #wethepeople303 #DefundThePolice pic.twitter.com/Ztvcv7Q2bL

— AfroLiberationFront (@AfroFrontCo) June 26, 2020

Community members had reportedly been planning the monument’s removal days before the incident.

Yes tonight the statue of Christopher Columbus was removed. Yes you may use the video and credit us. pic.twitter.com/yEJx65b4VM

— AfroLiberationFront (@AfroFrontCo) June 26, 2020

Denver school board member Tay Anderson said on Twitter prior to the incident Thursday that the actual statue is “reminiscent of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.” Still, he called for the removal of the plaque below the main body of the figure, which honors Columbus.

As part of the ongoing nationwide protests against police brutality and racial inequality, demonstrators have been removing statues of Confederate figures and others associated with slavery and genocide, such as Columbus.

Wednesday night, a Civil War monument was also toppled in Denver.

Authorities reportedly did not have any added security around the statues, according to Schepman.

Schepman added that investigators are “working with other city agencies to identify sites and/or statues that may be targeted, and will conduct extra patrols.”