North End Christopher Columbus statue vandalized

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- The Christopher Columbus statue that graces the waterfront in Boston's North End was vandalized on Monday night.

The statue is covered in red paint and had the words “Black Lives Matter” written on the back of the foundation block that the white marble statue stands on.

Victoria Bonney saw the mess while walking her dog Tuesday morning.

"I think civil disobedience has a place it's unfortunate it happened here. At the same time it starts a conversation we need to have," she said.

The city's park's commissioner is unsure of who is responsible, but says this isn't the way to open a discussion.

Chris Cook, parks commissioner, said, "We encourage discourse but this is not the way to do it you don't want to destroy public property."

This isn't the first time the statue has been targeted. In 2006, someone took the head and it was found six days later.

The statue was cleaned with a power washer.

Cox Media Group