In recent years Christopher Columbus has come under attack by some for his treatment of the indigenous peoples he conquered. And today, a statue of Columbus at the Troy Italian Community Center ramped up the controversy. This sign was hung around the neck of the bust of Columbus that sits outside the building on Fifth Avenue. It says “Stop celebrating genocide,” and a group called Contro Colombo 518 takes responsibility.

The ICC’s president, Andy Miele, says this is not the kind of discovery he wanted to make about Columbus. He says he got a call from police about the sign and as an immigrant himself, he was very upset. “Luckily they didn’t do any damage. I consider this a hate crime and anybody who commits a hate crime should be admonished for it because it’s wrong.”