Thomas Jefferson statue to be removed from New York City Hall

A statue of Thomas Jefferson is to be removed from New York City Hall after a vote by city commissioners, according to reports in NBC News.

The statue of Jefferson has proved controversial as the third president of the United States of America, and one of its founding fathers was a slaveholder throughout his life until his death in 1826.

City Council speaker Corey Johnson has led the campaign to have the statue removed, saying: “There are disturbing images of divisiveness and racism in our City that need to be revisited.”

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