Group Gathers At South Philly Christopher Columbus Statue In Support Of Police Capt. Lou Campione

Alexandria Hoff reports.

ATTENTION IN ONE SOUTH JERSEYNEIGHBORHOOD.TONIGHT WHERE IT WAS LAST SEENAND WHAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO IFYOU SEE THIS ANIMAL.WE BEGIN WITH RISINGTENSIONS AT THE SITE OF THECHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS STATUE INSOUTH PHILADELPHIA.GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

I'MUKEE WASHINGTON.AND I'M JESSICA KARTALIJA.TONIGHT, CREWS FINISHED BUILDINGA BARRIER AROUND THE STATUE THATHAS BECOME THE CENTER OF HEATEDPROTESTS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS,BUT TODAY THE STATUE HAS TAKEN ABACK SEAT TO A NEW CAUSE AFTER APOLICE OFFICER, FAMILIAR TO THATNEIGHBORHOOD, WAS REASSIGNED.ALEXANDRIA HOFF IS AT MARCONIPLAZA WITH THE STORY.THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT GOINGON OUT HERE, AND THERE STILL ISA VERY SMALL CITIZEN AND POLICEPRESENCE, ESSENTIALLY KEEPINGWATCH OVER THE CHRISTOPHERCOLUMBUS STATUE.BUT IT DOES HAVE A NEWPROTECTIVE LAYER.AROUND 7:15, THE FINAL BOARD WASHAMMERED AROUND IT.SINCE SATURDAY, RESIDENTS HAVETAKEN UP POST TO GUARD THESTATUE OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUSIN SOUTH PHILADELPHIA'S MARCONIPLAZA.CLASHES WERE QUICK TO FORM WITHTHOSE SEEKING ITS REMOVAL.WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

STOPIT.Reporter: PHILADELPHIA POLICECAPTAIN LOU CAMPIONE WASREASSIGNED AFTER THOSE CLASHESFOR REASONS THAT HAVE NOT BEENMADE CLEAR.THE POLICE UNION IS STANDINGBEHIND THE CAPTAIN BUT HUNDREDSOF RESIDENTS IN SOUTHPHILADELPHIA MADE IT CLEAR THATTHEY ARE, TOO.THE EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT WASMASSIVE, AS WAS THE POLICEPRESENCE.I CAME DOWN HERE TO JUST SHOWMY SUPPORT TO THE OFFICERS.Reporter: AS THE STATUE OFCHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WAS BEINGBOARDED UP, AN EFFORT TO PROTECTIT FROM DAMAGE, ACCORDING TO THECITY, SOUTH PHILADELPHIARESIDENTS SPILLED ONTO BROADSTREET NEAR OREGON AVE.

STOPPINGTRAFFIC AT TIMES.THIS STATUE WAS PUT HERE BYTHE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THISIMMIGRANTS OF ITALY.THAT'S WHY IT MEANS SO MUCH.VERBAL AND NEAR PHYSICALALTERCATIONS BETWEEN ACTIVISTSAND STATUE SUPPORTERS CONTINUEDTHROUGHOUT THE EVENING, AT TIMESPOLICE HAD TO LINE UP TOSEPARATE BOTH SIDES.A LOT OF THIS ACTIVITY DIDDISSIPATE AT NIGHT FALL.NOW MAYOR KENNEY HAS ASKED TOINITIATE A PUBLIC PROCESS TOREVIEW THE FUTURE OF THISSTATUE.AND THE DELAWARE RIVER PORTAUTHORITY ARE DOING SOIGNELY THESAME THING.THEY ARE CONSIDERING THE FAITHOF THE COLUMBUS MONUMENT ATPENN'S LANDING.