Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) has launched a petition drive whose goal is to protect statues of such historical figures as Christopher Columbus, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington in the face of a City Council bill, currently under review, that could result in the removal of the statues.

The legislation, which recently was the subject of a hearing by the Council’s Cultural Affairs Committee, would, according to the City Council website, “require the Public Design Commission (PDC) to publish a plan to remove works of art on City property that depict a person who owned enslaved persons or directly benefitted economically from slavery, or who participated in systemic crimes against indigenous peoples or other crimes against humanity.” Alternately, “If PDC determines a work of art depicts a person who fits these criteria and decides not to remove the work of art, PDC would be required to include in the plan steps it will take to install an explanatory plaque next to the work of art.”

Among the statues that could potentially be affected are the statue of Columbus in Columbus Circle, and statues of Jefferson and Washington in Washington Square Park.

“It is infuriating that members of the City Council are considering ‘cancelling’ some of the most significant figures in our nation’s history,” said Assemblyman Colton. “Given the budget crunch the city now faces, with the mayor floating the idea of cutting the budgets of all city agencies by as much as 15 percent, it is ridiculous that the City Council would consider wasting funding that could go to services for residents on performative grandstanding.”

The petitions are circulating around Assemblyman Colton’s district. They are also available at his district office, 155 Kings Highway.