Italian heritage group to appeal Columbus statue removal
An Italian heritage group is vowing to appeal a judge’s ruling that Pittsburgh officials can remove a 13-foot statue of Christopher Columbus from a city park.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that attorneys for the Italian Sons and Daughters of America have argued that the mayor doesn’t have the power to override an ordinance passed by the city council in 1955 allowing installation of the 800-pound statue.
RELATED COVERAGE: City of Pittsburgh reviewing judge’s ruling on Christopher Columbus statue
Common Pleas Judge John McVay Jr. ruled that because the statue is in a city-owned park, it represents government speech.
Attorney George Bochetto said because an ordinance was passed to erect the statue, that ordinance must be repealed before it can be removed.
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