Syracuse, NY. (NCC News) – A New York state court of appeals recently rejected the Columbus Monument Corporation’s request to re-hear their argument against the cities plans to remove the Columbus statue downtown.
This is the second time the court has rejected to re-hear their argument and comes as a big win for Mayor Ben Walsh, an avid supporter of removing the statue.
Grant Reeher, director of the Campbell Institute of Public Affairs at Syracuse University, acknowledged that support from a new group may have shifted the tide of this controversial debate.
“Folks that are more active on the left whom my sense is are mostly white. There’s kind of a coalition between white liberals and Native American activists,” he said.
Although the backing for removing the statue has swelled over the years, Reeher ultimately thinks that the city has pivoted towards bigger, economic developments.
“Time is probably on the side of those who would like to keep the statue. In the intervening years there have been other things now that are really occupying peoples attention, like how to deal with Micron.”
Mayor Walsh has discussed plans to turn Columbus circle into Heritage park, but no plans have been made public.
For now, the statue remains.