by Jon Brown, Daily Wire:

Chicago removed two statues of Christopher Columbus during the early morning hours on Friday, in what Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot characterized as an attempt to reduce violence.

Lightfoot, who originally opposed any removal of Columbus, relented “in part to avoid another high-profile confrontation between police and protesters like the one that happened last week,” according to The Chicago Tribune. Crews removed Columbus statues from Grant Park at around 3 a.m. local time, and from Arrigo Park around 5:30 a.m.

Bye Columbus pic.twitter.com/5WWXDJgSws

— Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez