New London — A new online campaign is calling on the city, specifically Mayor Michael Passero, to halt any criminal investigation into vandalism of the statue of Christopher Columbus that has occurred over the past week.

Community members appear to be split on whether or not the spray-painting warrants an arrest. Some are calling it a justified act of civil disobedience, while others argue crimes cannot simply be committed without consequences. Along with the statue, someone spray-painted the side of a police vehicle and the front door of the police substation on Truman Street.

Earlier this week, the local youth activist group Hearing Youth Voices posted a message on its Facebook page calling on the mayor to drop charges against the individuals responsible for the statue vandalism. As of Friday, however, police said the investigation was ongoing with no arrests made and no warrants applied for.

Passero said he has received numerous calls and emails because of the rumor of arrests. He said he is not privy to details of the police investigation and said it would be inappropriate to get involved, either way.

“I’m very proud we had a demonstration last Saturday for an important movement that I believe the residents in the city by and large support. And that happened without any injuries or arrests,” Passero said.

Saturday's rally brought more than 1,000 people together to protest social injustice and police brutality in the wake of the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis. The Columbus statue is viewed by some as a symbol of white supremacy, given Columbus' history of killing and enslavement of indigenous people.

The controversy has led to Passero’s decision to attempt to move the statue, which had been a gift from Italian American residents in 1928, to a safe location to prevent any further damage. The City Council has called a special meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday to hear discussion from the public and formally vote on the statue's removal.

Hearing Youth Voices, who have a full list of demands from the city, continues to call for people to get involved and contact the mayor about the criminal investigation.

“Our country is hurting, our people are hurting. Black young people led an incredible rally and march on Saturday,” the Facebook post reads. “For most of us it was the biggest New London march we’ve ever seen in our lives. Unfortunately, we have been made aware that the New London police Department plans on arresting some of our youth and giving them records in regards to the spray paint on the Columbo statue. Will we stand by the youth of New London and help?”

The post includes the phone numbers and email addresses of Passero and Chief Administrative Officer Steve Fields.

New London police Capt. Brian Wright, when contacted Friday, said he was unaware of the calls for leniency and reiterated that the vandalism was the subject of an ongoing investigation. He did say that if the people were identified and a case made, the information would be sent to the state’s attorney’s office for a probable cause finding on whether a warrant should be issued. He also said police, in general, have a responsibility to not turn a blind eye to a situation that could potentially escalate.

State Rep. Anthony Nolan, who also serves as a New London police officer and is African American, said he understood the frustrations of the protesters and recognized the spray-painting as a cry for attention, for voices to be heard by city leaders. He said similar frustrations are playing out across the country.

Nolan said some sort of penalty is warranted, given a crime was committed. He said his opinion as a state legislator is that if an arrest is made, it should not be a physical arrest but rather a summons to avoid any undue disruption or embarrassment in someone’s life for what is most likely a misdemeanor offense.

Tammy Lanier, vice president of the New London NAACP and a former probation officer, said she is torn between what her heart is feeling and what her mind is telling her in terms of law and order.

“It was an act of civil disobedience during a peaceful protest and it would be unfortunate to see an arrest and prosecution,” she said. “I understand the need for civil disobedience and the need to create constructive tension that forces a municipality to not only look at these issues but listen to the residents.”

Lanier said the people are “tired of municipalities and people in decision-making positions turning a blind eye to the cries of residents for justice.”

Sara Ofner-Seals, co-pastor of the First Congregational Church in New London, emailed Passero expressing her position that the statue does not reflect the values of the city, “knowing what we now know” about Columbus.

“As far as the youth involved (in the spray-painting), it’s really important right now that we listen to the voices of protesters and the people crying out about injustice,” she said. “I don’t think we should let ourselves get distracted from the issue at hand. People of color, black people specifically, are crying out for justice, crying out because their communities are in pain and have been for a long time. It’s time for us to listen.”

A representative from Hearing Youth Voices did not return calls seeking comment. Members of the group are involved in calling for removal of the police from New London schools, “demilitarization” of the police department, removal of the Columbus statue and defunding a portion of the police budget, among other demands.

g.smith@theday.com