In a 5-0 vote, the Scotch Plains Township Council agreed to keep the Christopher Columbus monument in its place outside the Municipal Building on Park Avenue. Prior to the meeting, a large group of Italian American community leaders marched from the Italian American Club to the Municipal Building to show their support for the Columbus statue.

Speakers at the rally at the club's parking lot included Scotch Plains Mayor Al Smith, Deputy Mayor Josh Losardo, who put the topic on the Township Council's agenda Tuesday evening, and Paul Raphael, the president of the local chapter of UNICO, the Italian American service organization.