Here in New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday reiterated his support for monuments to Christopher Columbus, after protesters in Minnesota, Massachusetts and Virginia took direct action to tear down or decapitate statues honoring the 15th century Italian mercenary.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo: “The statue was — has come to represent and signify appreciation for the Italian American contribution to New York. So, on that, for that reason, I support it.”

Cuomo’s remark came as thousands of people signed a petition calling for Manhattan’s Columbus Circle to be renamed and its monument removed. It reads in part, “Christopher Columbus was a white colonist who slaughtered thousands of Native Americans on their own soil. Honoring him is honoring those murders.”