NYC to keep controversial statues

In the wake of white nationalist violence in Virginia, the city of New York will keep most controversial statues in place, but with new markers for context.

Statue

A New York statue review was launched amid a national outcry over violence in Virginia. (AAP)

A commission created to figure out what to do with controversial statues and monuments on New York City property has recommended that most be kept where they are with historical markers added to give additional context, with just one moved from its high-profile location.

Mayor Bill de Blasio launched the statue review last northern summer amid a national outcry over violence surrounding a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the removal of a Confederate statue.

At the time, de Blasio said a task force would be created to review "symbols of hate" on city property with an eye toward determining whether removals were necessary.

On Thursday, de Blasio said in a statement, "Reckoning with our collective histories is a complicated undertaking with no easy solution. Our approach will focus on adding detail and nuance to - instead of removing entirely - the representations of these histories."

At a public hearing in November, some speakers suggested certain monuments should go, while others called the committee's work an exercise in political correctness.


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Source: AAP



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