ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) - A statue of the founder of Rochester has been defaced, with “shame,” “white supremacy” and other anti-racism messages sprayed on the sculpture of Revolutionary War figure and slave owner Nathaniel Rochester.
The bronze statue of a seated Rochester was damaged sometime between Thursday night and Friday morning.
The sculpture’s hands were painted red, and “shame” was written across its forehead. Other messages around the figure include “local founder of land theft, slavery, land speculation, rent,” “stole indigenous lands,” and ”abolish the police.”
Mayor Lovely Warren noted Friday that there’s a complexity to recognizing Rochester’s role in establishing what became the western New York city, but also understanding that he was a slave owner.
She said the community should discuss “the best way to deal with those figures.” The city’s new Commission on Racial and Structural Equity could decide to consider such issues.
The sculpture was unveiled in 2008 as part of a neighborhood-revitalization effort led by volunteers. Called “Reflecting,” the statue shows Rochester sitting on a ground-level stone, his chin resting on his hands.
Pepsy Kettavong, the Laotian-born artist who made the piece, told the Democrat and Chronicle on Friday that he strove to create “something that acknowledges his character and history.”
The damage to the Rochester statue happened amid demands around the U.S. and the world to remove statues, symbols and names associated with slavery and oppression.
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