PROVIDENCE, R.I.—A statue of Christopher Columbus in Providence was doused in red paint and had a sign reading "murderer" hung around its waist during the Columbus Day holiday.
WJAR-TV reports the vandalism was discovered Monday morning.
The large statue of a standing and pointing Columbus sits at a busy intersection in the capital city.
Police say they are investigating it as malicious injury to property vandalism.
A representative of the Sons of Italy tells WPRO-AM that he would like the vandalism to be investigated as a hate crime against Italians.
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