NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A new monument unveiled Sunday in New Haven aims to acknowledge the contributions of Italian Americans after a centuries-old statue of Christopher Columbus was removed four years ago.
The monument located in Wooster Square Park depicts a young immigrant family arriving in America.
Following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, a nationwide movement began calling for the removal of controversial landmarks, including monuments of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus. At the time, protesters believed statues of the settler were a symbol of the slave trade and killings of Native Americans.
After a New Haven high school student successfully petitioned the city of New Haven to remove the Columbus monument, Mayor Justin Elicker created a committee aimed at finding a way to honor the contributions made by Italian Americans in New Haven.
“I think that we in New Haven responded in a way where we proactively remove the statue but also engage the community in a long process that was a collaborative process to come up with something that can effectively honor Italian American heritage in a way that doesn't offend or divide other people in our community,” said Elicker.
RELATED: New Haven faces third lawsuit for removal of Christopher Columbus statue
Marc Anthony Massaro, the artist behind the monument called “Indicando la Via al Futuro” or “Pointing the Way to the Future,” said he began to sketch when the Columbus monument came down.
Massaro explained that he watched the monument come down with his wife on the news and told her, "I have very mixed feelings because I understand and can appreciate both sides of this, I said, but it is still difficult to watch this.'"
When his wife asked what he would put in its place, Massaro said he "picked up a sketchpad" and "started sketching out what you see here."
Massaro hopes people will find this statue relevant to their own experience.
“This is anybody, this is all of us coming here, with the exception of the exclusivity of the Indigenous people who were on this continent long before any of us showed up. Aside from them, we are all from somewhere else. And we need to acknowledge that and not look down on anybody else because we all have that common denominator. We are all from somewhere else,” said Massaro.
RELATED: Plaintiffs file lawsuit against New Haven over removal of Christopher Columbus statue
The base of the old monument sits directly behind a plaque that reads, “On the grounds where the statue of Christopher Columbus once stood. This sculpture is dedicated to honor all who have occupied the land on which it stands. It serves as a powerful symbol of resilience, determination, and the strength of the human spirit.”
Jake Garcia is a multimedia journalist for FOX61 News. He can be reached at jgarcia@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
---
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
---
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.