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​The announcement of the replacement came as part of the commemoration of 500 years of Indigenous Resistance. | Photo: UNOTV​


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Mexico City, September 6 (RHC)-- Mexico City's head of government, Claudia Sheinbaum, reports that the statue of Christopher Columbus, which was removed from Paseo de la Reforma, will now be replaced by that of an Olmec woman.

As part of the celebration of the International Day of Indigenous Women, the head of government explained that the objective of placing another sculpture, is to recognize the women of the native peoples.

Sheinbaum in this regard, detailed that the statue that will replace Colón seeks to vindicate the indigenous woman and what she represents in our history, as an act of social justice and a recognition to the original peoples and what women represent in the history of the country.

"Today with all the support of the National Institute of Anthropology and History, we announce that the Glorieta de Colón very soon, already close to this day October 12 which is the day of La Raza, is the great recognition to the 500 years of resistance to indigenous women in our country....

"To them we owe, for them we are, it is the history of our country, of our homeland, of course we recognize Columbus, but there are two visions."  In addition, she explained that under the supervision of INAH, the sculpture of Columbus will be placed in America Park, in the Miguel Hidalgo district, once the restoration work is completed. 

The changes will be completed soon, since INAH must also remove the base that served the statue of Columbus and adapt the site to receive the new sculpture, which will be in charge of the artist Pedro Reyes.

The 19th century bronze statue was removed from Paseo de la Reforma last year for restoration work prior to an annual protest.

Every October 12, dozens of indigenous people from different regions of the country gather at the traffic circle where the monument is located in the Mexican capital to show their rejection of colonization, discrimination against native peoples and slavery.