Erin L. Thompson

 

Erin L. Thompson is a professor studying the relationships between art and crime at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (City University of New York). Her forthcoming book, Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of American Monuments (Norton 2022), looks at the history of protests against controversial monuments.

Protesters led by Bad River Anishinaabe activist Mike Forcia toppled this statue of Christopher Columbus on June 10, 2020.

Meet the Indigenous Activist Who Toppled Minnesota's Christopher Columbus Statue

The unauthorized removal of the monument took place during the racial justice protests of summer 2020

The statue of Hannah Dunston has been vandalized with red paint in recent months

Why Just 'Adding Context' to Controversial Monuments May Not Change Minds

Research shows that visitors often ignore information that conflicts with what they already believe about history

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