Statue Of Theodore Roosevelt To Be Removed From Front Of American Museum Of Natural History
The statue that shows Theodore Roosevelt on a horse with a Native American man and an African man on his sides will be removed from the American Museum Of Natural History located in New York.
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The statue of Teddy which presided over the entrance to the museum since 1940, follows both ongoing calls from activists to be taken down for the racism it represents and recent protests against systemic racism across the country where protesters have taken down racist monuments. The final decision was made by the museum and approved by the city, which owns the statue and building.
Earlier this Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that while Roosevelt was a “complex” figure, he admitted that the statue itself is especially problematic, in this case.
“The statue has representations that clearly do not represent today’s values. The statue clearly presents a white man as superior to people of color, and that’s just not acceptable in this day and age, and never should’ve been acceptable,” de Blasio said. “I know the museum feels it’s best to take it down. I support that decision. I think they felt that was right for them as a museum, and I understand why they’re doing it, and I respect it.”
Several people had argued that the statue symbolizes colonial expansion and racial discrimination. However, Trump spoke out to share his dissproval over the move. He tweeted,
“Ridiculous, don’t do it!” he wrote on Twitter.”
Ridiculous, don’t do it! https://t.co/VYez8p9AJh
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2020
Aside from that, Ellen Futter, museum president, further explained his decision in a statment saying,
“As we strive to advance our institution’s, our city’s, and our country’s passionate quest for racial justice, we believe that removing the statue will be a symbol of progress and of our commitment to build and sustain an inclusive and equitable museum community and broader society.”
“The world does not need statues, relics of another age, that reflect neither the values of the person they intend to honor nor the values of equality and justice. The composition of the Equestrian Statue does not reflect Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy. It is time to move the Statue and move forward,” said Theodore Roosevelt IV, museum trustee and great-grandson of Theodore Roosevelt.
Roosevelt was the 26th president of the United States. Before that, he served as governor of New York. According to CBS News, the museum will name its Hall of Biodiversity after the former president to honor his role as a leading conservationist.
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