A statue of Christopher Columbus has been removed from beside Columbia’s historic canal as statues of controversial figures have become the focus of protests nationwide. The city of Columbia removed the statue early Friday morning from an area of Riverfront Park, where the explorer’s statue had stood near a popular walking trail between the Columbia canal and the Congaree River.

The statue was dismembered and taken down in phases, and by 10 a.m. only Columbus’ feet remained atop a brick pedestal from which the plaques had been removed. A backhoe later prised the base of the statue from the pedestal and toppled the two feet to the ground. Mayor Steve Benjamin said the statue was removed because of fears of vandalism.