Commonwealth Policy Center

Remember in grade school when we were learning our history lessons about the discovery of the new world by Christopher Columbus? “In fourteen hundred and ninety-two Columbus sailed the ocean blue and discovered America.” That’s how the song went anyway. Now, there’s a move to discredit Columbus. Dozens of Columbus statues in public places have been removed under the guise of racial injustice. While Columbus had his demons and very real imperfections, should he be removed as a key person in our history? At least one judge in Philadelphia disagrees. Judge Paula Patrick block the city’s attempt to remove a statue of Columbus. She said, “It is baffling to this court as to how the city of Philadelphia wants to remove the statue without any legal basis. The city’s entire argument and case is devoid of any legal foundation.”