A former Theodore Roosevelt statue at the Museum of Natural History in New York will be relocated

The famous statue of Theodore Roosevelt at the entrance to the American Museum of Natural History will be removed. For years, it has been criticized as a symbol of colonial conquest and racial discrimination.

According to the Associated Press, citing the New York Times, the New York City Public Design Commission voted unanimously Monday to relocate the statue. The statue of the former president on horseback, with an Indian and an African on either side of the horse.

It is reported that the statue will be given to an as-yet-unspecified cultural institution dedicated to the memory of Roosevelt's life and legacy.

Since 1940, this bronze statue has stood at the west entrance of the museum's Central Park.

Opposition to the statue has grown in recent years, especially after the murder of George Floyd, which sparked a racial reckoning and wave of protests across the United States

In June 2020, museum officials proposed the statue's removal. The museum is owned by New York City, and Mayor Bill de Blasio supported the removal of the "problematic statue."

Museum officials said in a prepared email statement Wednesday that they were pleased with the committee's vote and thanked the city.

Sam Biederman of the New York City Parks Department said at a meeting Monday that while the statue was "not malicious," its composition "supports the thematic framework of colonialism and racism."

Compile: LH