NYPD Guarding Columbus Circle amid Targeting of Confederate Statutes by Protesters

The NYPD is reportedly deployed to protect the symbols of the genocidal mass murderer at Columbus Square.

As protests continue over the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis and amid nationwide calls to remove statues deemed offensive, the NYPD is on guard in Columbus Circle to protect the statue in the controversial explorer's honor.

More protests took place overnight around the country, with some demonstrators beginning to take matters into their own hands by tearing down Confederate statues.

In Virginia, a statue of Columbus in Richmond was torn down, set on fire and thrown into a lake. The figure was toppled less than two hours after protesters gathered in the city's Byrd Park were chanting for the statue to be taken down, news outlets reported.

After the figure was removed from its pedestal around 8:30 p.m. Tuesday by protesters using several ropes, a sign that reads, "Columbus represents genocide" was placed on the spray-painted foundation that once held the statue.

Protesters tore down the statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis on Wednesday, and in Portsmouth, about 80 miles away, protesters beheaded and then pulled down four statues that were part of a Confederate monument, according to media outlets.

A statue of Columbus was beheaded in Boston, while a statue in Houston was vandalized with red paint. The statue also bears a cardboard sign with the message, "Rip the head from your oppressor."

For the rest of this ABC News story log on:https://abc7ny.com/politics/nypd-guarding-columbus-circle-as-statues-com...