Christopher Columbus Statue

Petition Seeks to Rename Columbus, Ohio, ‘Flavortown’ to Honor Guy Fieri | Eater

"Already slated for removal, the controversial statue of the Italian explorer has become a focal point for activists who argue that taking it down isn't sufficient because the city's name still honors a figure tied to European colonization and the ethnic cleansing of indigenous peoples. A Change.org petition with at least 45,000 signatures urges a more radical change—renaming the city “Flavortown” in honor of local celebrity chef Guy Fieri and the region's culinary heritage—and was organized by Tyler Woodbridge, who says Fieri's optimism and charitable work better reflect local values and would be preferable to the current namesake; Woodbridge also said he would support renaming after an indigenous figure. Woodbridge plans to deliver the petition on June 30 with a planned stop to protest at the statue and has invited supporters to join, urging them to cover their faces, wear loud Guy Fieri–style clothing, carry signs, and make their voices heard." - Jenny G. Zhang