Goodbye to Controversial Philly Statue

Statue of former Mayor Frank Rizzo, accused of discriminating against minorities, taken down
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 3, 2020 11:50 AM CDT
Goodbye to Controversial Philly Statue
In this Saturday photo, police stand near a vandalized statue of controversial former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo in Philadelphia during protests over the death of George Floyd.   (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Workers removed the statue early Wednesday of controversial former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, which was recently defaced during a protest following George Floyd's death. As National Guard troops deployed in the wake of recent protests watched, a crane lifted the 10-foot-tall bronze statue, and workers shook it from its stand outside the Municipal Services Building across from City Hall. It was loaded onto the back of a truck, per the AP. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said he "never liked" the statue and announced a plan to move the statue later this month.

"I can't wait to see it go away," Kenney added. The statue was frequently targeted by vandals, and there had been calls in recent years to remove the figure of the former mayor. Kenney had pledged to move the statue to another location in 2021. Supporters say Rizzo, who also served as the city's police commissioner, was tough on crime, while critics said he discriminated against minorities. It isn't clear where the statue was taken.

(More Philadelphia stories.)

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