Philadelphia Officials Considering Removing Christopher Columbus Statue

Matt Petrilli reports.

FOR PARENTS WHO CANNOT.THE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUSSTATUE IN SOUTH PHILADELPHIACOULD BECOME HISTORY.PHILADELPHIA CITY LEADERSANNOUNCED TODAY THEY'RECONSIDERING REMOVING IT AFTERCHAOS ERUPTED BETWEEN THOSEGUARDING IT AND THOSEACTIVISTS WANTING IT GONE INGENERAL."EYEWITNESS NEWS" REPORTERMATT PETRILLO JOINS US NOWLIVE TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUTTHAT.MATT.Reporter: UKEE GOODAFTERNOON.YEAH, THAT WAS DEFINITELY ALOT OF CLASHING BETWEEN THOSEACTIVISTS WHO WANT THAT STATUEREMOVED BEHIND ME HERE ATMARCONI PLAZA AND THOSEGUARDING TO KEEP IT SAFE.CELL PHONE VIDEO SHOWS THATMOMENT FROM SUNDAY NIGHT.WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?STOP IT.Reporter: CELL PHONEVIDEO FROM SUNDAY NIGHT SHOWSA LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHOWERE GUARDING THE CHRISTOPHERCOLUMBUS STATUE HERE ATMARCONI PLAZA WALKING FORWARD.ESSENTIALLY TO PUSH OUT ASMALL GROUP OF ACTIVISTS WHOWANT THIS STATUE REMOVED.ONE WOMAN HOLDING A CELL PHONECAMERA SHOUTS DON'T TOUCH MEAND TRIES TO REMAIN IN PLACE.BUT SHE AND A FEW OTHERACTIVISTS EVENTUALLY END UP INTHE STREET AT BROAD ANDOREGON.WE WERE GETTING PUSHED INTOOPEN TRAFFIC, THERE WAS A LINEOF 40 COPS THAT DID NOTHING.THEY DID NOTHING.Reporter: 24-YEAR-OLDRONALD JOSEPH OF NORTHEASTPHILLY SAYS HE WAS MACED ANDPUNCHED IN THE FACE BY THEGROUP GUARDING THE STATUE.WE WANTED TO GO THERE ANDOBSERVE AND WANTED TO HELP OUTIF THINGS GOT REALLY BAD.Reporter: SO WHAT DO YOUMEAN BY OBSERVE.WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT ISGOING ON, YOU KNOW, LIKE ARETHE PROTESTERS PEACEFULLYPROTESTING, WERE THEY SAFE.GET OFF OF HIM.Reporter: AMANDA TOOKVIDEO OF THE CLASH.WITH YOUR PRESENCE ALONE DOYOU THINK THAT WAS AGITATINGTHE SITUATION.I DON'T THINK SO.WE JUST WANTED TO GO OBSERVE.THEY WANTED TO CAUSECHAOS.

Reporter: THIS MAN WASAMONG THOSE.FOR SOME REASON THEY WANTTO TAKE THE ITALIAN HISTORYAWAY.Reporter: SOME SAY THOSEPROTECTING THE STATUE WENT TOOFAR."EYEWITNESS NEWS" FOUND SOMEOF THEM ON SATURDAY HOLDINGBACK, OTHERS WITH GUNS.NOW THE INTERIM AFFAIRSDIVISION OF THE PHILADELPHIAPOLICE IS INVESTIGATING THEDEPARTMENT'S RESPONSE.I WAS HOPING THAT THEPOLICE WOULD ACT, YOU KNOW, IWAS HOPING THAT POLICE WOULDDEESCALATE THINGS.Reporter: AND SO APHILADELPHIA SPOKESPERSON TOLD"EYEWITNESS NEWS" THE CITY ISNOW CONSIDERING TO REMOVE THECHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUEFROM HERE IN MARCONI PLAZA IFIT'S PRESENCE CONTINUES TO