Christopher Columbus statue removed at Columbus State

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — Columbus State Community College removed its Christopher Columbus statue Friday.

(WARNING: Graphic language visible on statue.)

Spokesperson David Wayne said the removal process started at 6:30 a.m. Crews worked throughout the morning, measuring and engineering the removal. A small crowd gathered on campus, as onlookers took pictures of the process.

"I see them getting rid of the Christopher Columbus statue, and you know, it’s about time," Columbus native and former CSCC student Hakim Callwood said. "I’m from Columbus, I love Columbus, but we all know the story of Christopher Columbus has been, what do you call that, changed over time."

However, the decision to remove that statue has been polarizing, with many of you telling us removing the statue is "erasing our county's history and past," "ridiculous," and some are asking if renaming the city is next.

Columbus State Community College spokesperson David Wayne said the cost for removal was paid by private donors. The statue was vandalized earlier this weekafter it was announced that it would be removed.

The statue will go to an "undisclosed" location, where it will be cleaned and restored. From there, it will go into storage, until a museum takes it, a collector buys it, or something along those lines. The idea of an art installation taking its place is being floated around, but no concrete plans have been made.