ST. LOUIS — For hundreds of years, a statue of Christopher Columbus has stood tall in Tower Grove Park in south St. Louis and it's been a hot topic.
Last year the Tower Grove Park Board of Commissioners explored a number of issues surrounding the statue after many people raised concerns over Columbus' history with Native Americans.
Others insisted the well-known, Italian navigator did not discover America and said the statue near Grand Boulevard should come down.
"He wasn't all that," said St. Louis native, artist and DJ Kathy Dickerson.
Still, on Monday Dickerson spent nearly 12 hours sitting at the foot of the statue the park board has decided will stay in the park.
Dickerson preferred celebrating "National People's Indigenous Day" not Columbus Day.
"So, they thought he discovered America. We all know that he didn't. The statue that's gonna stay up is a good thing because once you take a statue down then you can't really add to it. You can't add to history. I believe this really is a teachable moment for all of us," said Dickerson.
"I've been watching the statue since I was a kid," said Norman Hug.
Hug was born and raised in the south city neighborhood. He's glad the Columbus statue isn't venturing anywhere.
"It represents the country. The origin of the country. Christopher Columbus whether he was the first crew here or the last, but he gets credit for it and that's good enough for me," said Hug.
Signs and markers will be added near the statue to discuss the historical context of Columbus and the history of the park's land.
"I've always said that I wanted a plaque stating what he had done wrong to the indigenous people," said Kathy Dickerson.
"I just think it should have been put on the ballot just like anything else and they should have let the people vote on whether it should stay or be removed from the park," said jogger Hilda Bromley.
