SAN ANTONIO – A group of protestors took to the corner of Columbus and West Martin Sunday to call for a removal of the Christopher Columbus statue.
A #SanAntonio group is protesting #ChristopherColumbusDay at the statue on the corner of Columbus and W Martin pic.twitter.com/xn21B9Zl1S
— KSAT Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) October 8, 2017
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People holding signs and chanting said the holiday and statue represents oppression for Native Americans.
"We need to take these statues down because we don't need to be constantly reminded of our oppressors and the bad history so we need to take these statues down," Juan Aguirre, one of the people protesting, said.
Aguirre said people have been protesting the statue for years, and his next step is to speak with city council about taking it down.
On Monday, many will observe Christopher Columbus day.
Protestor: It’s not about who is right or who is wrong it’s about Good education... We refuse to be oppressed anymore” #SanAntonio pic.twitter.com/HHr9Aex8l2
— KSAT Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) October 8, 2017
"It's time that our people wake up and start fighting back let these people know we aren't going to take it sitting down anymore, we need to stand up, our people need to stand up and our people need to be acknowledged as a people," Aguirre said.
Christopher Columbus Italian Society owns the statue; president says it’s a free country and won’t step in unless protestors deface statue pic.twitter.com/7jj5ki1Xd2
— KSAT Max Massey (@MaxMasseyTV) October 8, 2017
The Christopher Columbus Italian Society owns the statue, but the land belongs to the city.
The president of the organization told KSAT it's a free country and they won't step in unless the protestors deface the statue.
