Christopher Columbus statue torn down, thrown in lake by protesters
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Updated: Jun. 10, 2020 at 12:06 AM EDT
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The Christopher Columbus statue was torn down by protesters in downtown Richmond Tuesday night.
It happened around 9 p.m. at Byrd Park, following a peaceful demonstration outside of the statue in honor of indigenous people.
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Shortly afterward, the statue was ripped from its foundation, spray painted, then set on fire.
After that, the statue ended up in the lake.
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At the height of the destruction, agitators attacked an NBC12 photographer, demanding he leave the scene. A small crowd of people waved boards in the photographer’s face, grabbed him and attacked his camera.
He was able to return to work after the incident.
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