New York City: Jefferson statue is removed from City Hall

The third president of the USA is said to have had more than 600 slaves. The New York City Council has therefore decided to remove a statue of Jefferson from City Hall. What should happen to her is still unclear.

The larger than life figure of Thomas Jefferson has stood in the Council Chamber of New York City Hall for more than 100 years. In the past few years there had been repeated attempts to remove the Jefferson statue. However, they were repeatedly thrown out.

But now the time has come: the city council has unanimously decided to ban the replica of the famous bronze statue of the US founding father in the Washington Capitol from the New York City Hall. What should happen to her, however, is unclear. Originally it was supposed to be installed in the rooms of the New York Historical Society.

However, one does not want to make hasty decisions in order not to create a precedent for the 700 other works of art that may have to be removed in the future, said the head of the city’s design commission. This caused anger among some MPs.

US founding father had more than 600 slaves

Jefferson represents “some of the most shameful pages in the long and multifaceted history of our country,” said African American councilor Adams.

The third President of the United States and lead author of the American Declaration of Independence had more than 600 slaves. He and a slave also had six children.

The debate about statues in and in front of public buildings in the city had flared up again after the Black Lives Matter protests. It was recently decided to remove an equestrian statue of the former US President Theodore Roosevelt at the entrance to the New York Natural History Museum.