1st city in US named for Columbus puts his statue in storage

first city in United States named for Christopher Columbus has removed a statue of explorer and placed it in stor for safekeeping after it was vandalized several times in a week. Workers in Columbia, South Carolina, dismembered statue early Friday, and by mid-morning only feet were attached to pedestal at Riverfront Park.

statue will be stored until citizens, Columbia City Council and or officials can have a comprehensive discussion about what to do next, Mayor Steve Benjamin said.

mayor said he didn't want fate of Columbus statue to be decided by protesters destroying it in middle of night.

Statues of Columbus, who came to rth America in 1492, have been torn down by protesters in

South Carolina State Society of Daughters of American Revolution gave city statue. Benjamin tified that group and Order of Sons of Italy that he was putting statue in stor.

Columbia was named in 1786 for female representation of Columbus. It won an 11-7 vote over name Washington in South Carolina Senate.

South Carolina has a law protecting historic monuments from being taken down or altered without a two-thirds vote of General Assembly.