A group of protesters pulled down a statue of Christopher Columbus Wednesday outside the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. The statue came down just after 5 p.m. to cheers. The protesters say Columbus was responsible for Native American genocide, and it was time for the statue to go.

John Harrington, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, says officials were aware of the plan to remove the statue. Minnesota State Patrol troopers were also on hand before the toppling to inform protesters of the proper way to request the removal of statues.