A statue of Christopher Columbus can remain in South Philadelphia, a local judge ruled Tuesday, overruling city officials’ decision to remove it.
The decision was not supported by law and was baseless due to insufficient evidence, said common pleas court Judge Paula Patrick.
“It is baffling to this court as to how the City of Philadelphia wants to remove the Statue without any legal basis,” she wrote in her decision. “The city’s entire argument and case is devoid of any legal foundation.”
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The city’s Board of License and Inspection Review had initially upheld a July 2020 decision by the Philadelphia Historical Commission to remove the statue.
However, the city did not provide an adequate opportunity for the public to weigh in on the statue’s future, Patrick said.
The Columbus effigy became a topic of debate following the civil unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd.
JUST IN: A judge has ruled that a controversial Christopher Columbus statue can stay in South Philadelphia.https://t.co/gjQV1FZNDL
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“While we are very disappointed with the ruling, we’re reviewing it now and exploring all potential options — including a possible appeal,” said a spokesperson for Mayor Jim Kenney. “The statue remains in Marconi Plaza and will continue to be secured in its existing box.”
Kenney’s chief of staff told the city’s Art Commission that the statue had to be removed due to public safety.
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The city failed to provide evidence of a danger to the public, the judge wrote.
The confrontations over the statue in June 2020 were “isolated,” Patrick said.
