NEW YORK CITY, NY – It’s that time of year again. No, we’re not talking about pumpkin spice, fall festivals, and Halloween decorations. We’re talking about New York City going after historical figures like Christopher Columbus, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.
The city council has voted once again to attack the city’s rich and vibrant history, because that history no longer fits into the modern narrative, but does allow the cancel culture-hungry left to make themselves relevant in a time when most of America is simply tuning out cancel culture.
They want to ban George Washington!
New York City has seen a wave of reevaluation concerning its public monuments and statues of historical figures, especially in the wake of the nationwide protests following the killing of George Floyd in 2020. This heightened scrutiny has led to various actions aimed at addressing the legacies of these figures, particularly those associated with slavery, racial discrimination, and other controversial issues.
In June 2020, the city removed a statue of Thomas Jefferson from the New York City Council Chamber, citing Jefferson’s ownership of slaves as incompatible with modern values. This move was part of a broader initiative to review symbols and names in public spaces that could be seen as offensive or inappropriate.
In August 2020, the city also took down a statue of Theodore Roosevelt from outside the American Museum of Natural History. The statue depicted Roosevelt on horseback with a Native American and an African at his sides, a composition that many argued was racially insensitive.
Further steps included renaming streets and buildings that were named after controversial figures. The New York City Panel on Educational Policy voted to change the names of several schools that were named after historical figures who had legacies of slavery or oppression.
Despite the removals and renamings, the city has also faced criticism from those who argue that such actions amount to erasing history. Others question whether the focus on symbols detracts from more substantive discussions about inequality and systemic issues.