ANNAPOLIS, Md. —Delegate Nino Mangione (R–District 42A) today celebrated the placement of a Baltimore-based statue of Christopher Columbus in the nation’s capital. The statue is located outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where it is visible from Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 17th Street NW, and is part of the White House grounds.
Delegate Mangione was involved in efforts to recover the Columbus statue from Baltimore Harbor in July 2020 after a group of vandals attempted to destroy it and dumped it into the harbor. To date, the perpetrators have not been brought to justice.
Mangione said, “This world is full of haters and screamers who want to silence our voices, our values, and our votes. They want to erase our history. The placement of this statue sends a strong message to those individuals—you will not prevail in America.”
“Christopher Columbus is a hero. He is celebrated for his 1492 voyage to the Americas, which opened trade routes with Europe and built his reputation as a discoverer. Italian Americans celebrate his significance and impact on our country,” Mangione continued.
“It is a thrill and an honor to see his likeness in Washington, D.C., where millions can see it and reflect on his contributions to the United States of America,” Mangione concluded.