In the context of this artwork, discuss the Controversy and removal of the History.
In 2013, following the not-guilty verdict in the death of Trayvon Martin, a sign was hung around the statue's neck with the message, "This system is still racist." The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that Rizzo "had a poor relationship with Philadelphia's African-American community."Calls for the statue's removal began in 2016, when a group called the Philly Coalition for REAL Justice started an online petition. In August 2017, following the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, the statue was vandalized, kicking off further calls for its removal. The artist behind the statue, Zenos Frudakis, told the Tribune that he "hesitated to do the work at first" due to Rizzo's past and would accept the statue's removal if the city decided on it.
In November 2017, the city voted to remove the statue. However, the mayor refused to remove the statue, due to the $200,000 expense involved. Following unsuccessful attempts to pull down the statue by protesters, the mayor's office finally ordered the removal of the statue and it was placed into storage in July 2020.
Unite the Right rally Philadelphia Zenos Frudakis death of Trayvon Martin Philadelphia Inquirer The Philadelphia Inquirer