This is a disgrace, and I’m not talking about Teddy

‘Racist’ Teddy Roosevelt statue is removed from outside the Natural History Museum under cover of darkness – will be moved to North Dakota on long-term loan after more than eight decades in NYC

• Equestrian Statue of Theodore Roosevelt, commissioned in 1925 and unveiled to the public in 1940, depicts Roosevelt on a horse, with a Native American man and an African man on foot at his side

• It has been criticized by some as a symbol of colonialism and racism

• The $2 million removal involved a crane and tarpaulin around 1 am on Wednesday, with a portion of the statue pictured as it was lifted – while draped in a yellow tarp – before loading it on to a nearby truck 

• The remainder of the statue is scheduled to leave in pieces throughout the rest of the week 

• The Natural History Museum on its website said it as proud of its association with the Roosevelt family 

• But, it added: ‘The statue itself communicates a racial hierarchy the Museum and members of the public have long found disturbing’

• The statue has been covered in tarpaulin and scaffolding since early December 

My case: the Cancel movement has finally over-reached itself. God knows they’re not known for compromise, but this is a disgrace, and the disgrace is on the heads of the Museum’s trustees. They knew it too — that’s why they moved it at night.

When I was ten years old I realized that the striding Zulu and Indian chiefs were being presented as partners and not  servants. His writings were quite progressive for that time; he even said nice things about Italians! His only crime was being born in the 19th century,    Social Equal? NOBODY was Roosevelt’s social equal!

By sending the statue to North Dakota, generations of children are prevented from being inspired.  I went to New York from Boston when I was ten to see The Museum; I wouldn’t have been able to go if it were in North Dakota.

BRING ‘EM BACK!