An Essex County Italian-American group is fighting to save statues of Christopher Columbus, as controversy surrounding the historical figure grows. The Fairfield chapter of the Italian-American group UNICO says that they would like to collect all of the unwanted statues. 

UNICO Fairfield Chapter President Amedeo Pineta says that Columbus is an important figure for Italian-Americans. Half of Fairfield’s 7,400 residents are Italian, according to the last census. “I love it. I have a lot of family members here,” says Fairfield resident Vito Contuzzi. “There's over a hundred of just my family members just living in this town." Residents say that Italian pride runs deep in Fairfield and they say that Columbus is an important part of that pride.