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Jorge Cruz urges council not to restore Columbus statue or include council float in parade
Summary
Jorge (George) Cruz said reinstating a Christopher Columbus statue in Seaside Park and a city-council float in the Columbus Day parade would dishonor victims of colonial violence and called Columbus a "killer."
Jorge Cruz, identifying himself from the 131st District, told the council he opposes restoring a Christopher Columbus statue to Seaside Park and opposed a council float in the Columbus Day parade. He framed the issue as a matter of historical accuracy and the city’s public memory.
"Christopher Columbus was a killer," Cruz said, urging the council not to participate in or endorse the parade procession that would honor the explorer. He described the colonial system that followed Columbus’s voyages and said the city should not celebrate conquest while ignoring victims and their descendants.
Cruz asked council leadership to deny a council float and to recognize the experiences of Puerto Rican and Black community members; several councilors later raised the subject again during personal privilege remarks and discussion. The council did not take an immediate vote on parade participation.
