#Philadelphia removes statue of controversial mayor Frank Rizzo

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A statue of controversial former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo in Philadelphia.
Matt Rourke/AP

Philadelphia removed a statue of former mayor Frank Rizzo early Wednesday, after the sculpture was vandalized during George Floyd demonstrations across several days.

With help from workers shaking it from its stand, the 10-foot bronze statue was lifted by a crane outside of the Municipal Services Building across from City Hall.

Rizzo — who served as police commissioner from 1968 to 1971 before becoming mayor — had reputation for being tough on crime was faced complaints of racial discrimination. He once urged supporters to “vote white.”

In recent years, the statue of the late mayor, who died in 1991, had become a target for vandalism.

The statue was supposed to be moved in 2021, but plans changed after it was defaced during recent protests over the killing of Floyd, a black man who died in Minneapolis after a white cop pressed his knee on his neck.

It will be placed in storage until the city comes up with a permanent plan for the statue, officials said.

“I can’t wait to see it go away,” Mayor Jim Kenney said.

With Post wires