THREAD: Earlier today, The Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board (CAAPB) issued a press release which included the statement that "there is no formal CAAPB policy and process that addresses the potential removal of monuments and artwork from the Capitol grounds."
As I noted in a previous thread, the statement of "no formal CAAPB policy and process" for the removal of a statue from the grounds of the Minnesota State Capitol Complex directly contradicts the statements of numerous public officials in Minnesota. Please read below for details.
As detailed by @thauserkstp, on June 10, 2020, at 3:35 PM, @MnDPS_DPS Commissioner John Harrington said he was aware of the threat to the statue. He said the @MnDPS_MSP would meet with protesters "to explain to them the process that is already in existence" to remove a statue.
Harrington added there was "a lawful process" for the removal of a statue. At 4:51 PM, @efrostee posted a video of protesters meeting with the @MnDPS_MSP. Frost tweeted "A state trooper is here too with paperwork needed to remove the statue..."
If the state trooper had "paperwork needed to remove the statue" in his hands then how can CAAPB claim no there is "no formal CAAPB policy and process" to remove a statue? It's possible the paperwork being held by the state trooper was from another state agency or department.
After the statue of Christopher Columbus was toppled by protesters, @GovTimWalz released a statement. Walz said the "Minnesota Historical Society and the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board have a formal process to remove statues from the Capitol grounds..."
Walz further added, "While that process was too long for those who were pained by the statue’s presence, that is not an excuse for them to take matters into their own hands and remove it in that fashion. Even in pain, we must work together to make change, lawfully."
The following day, Paul Mandell, the executive secretary of CAAPB was quoted in a story by @TheoKeith as describing the removal of the statue as "vandalism" and adding, "there is a process" for the removal of a statue. fox9.com/news/capitol-p…
After reading statements about the existence of CAAPB policy for the removal of a statue, I filed a data request last week with CAAPB for their policy. Mandell confirmed he received my request. But today I received the press release from CAAPB which claimed there is no policy.
Finally, as I noted in a previous thread, I have no admiration for the statue of Christopher Columbus. My focus on this subject is limited to the confusion with the inconsistent statements about whether or not a policy existed for the removal of a statue. Thank you for reading.
