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NYC Council Seeks to Oust Thomas Jefferson Statue From City Hall

A statue of Thomas Jefferson stands in New York's City Hall Council Chamber. — A statue of Thomas Jefferson stands in New York's City Hall Council Chamber.
Photographer: Richard Drew/AP Photo

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June 18, 2020, 10:40 PM UTC

Several New York City Council members on Thursday called for the removal of a Thomas Jefferson statue from City Hall, saying the “well-known slave owner is a reminder of the injustices that have plagued communities of color since the inception of our country.”

In a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio, Council Speaker Corey Johnson and four others asked for support as they ask the city Design Commission to remove the statue. They join a wave of elected leaders around the country seeking to get rid of statues associated with slavery amid a global push for racial justice.