Flanagan says she ‘will not shed a tear’ over Columbus statue

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D-MN)

ST. PAUL, MN (KFGO) – Minnesota’s Native American lieutenant governor is not upset that protesters tore down the Christopher Columbus statue outside the State Capitol.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan said Thursday, “I will not shed a tear over the loss of a statue that honored someone who by his own admission, sold 9 and 10-year-old girls into sex slavery.”

Gov. Tim Walz says there will be consequences for those who damaged public property.

Senate Republican Majority Leader Paul Gazelka said the governor “failed the state of Minnesota, again” by not protecting the statue. Walz fired back saying don’t equate indigenous people speaking up with someone who randomly loots or burns a store.