A special City Council meeting was held Tuesday in Bridgeport over what to do with the statue of Christopher Columbus in Seaside Park.

The statue was removed by the mayor several weeks ago, but the debate surrounding it has continued. City Council voted to allow the Parks and Recreation Department to determine the statue's fate.

Some people believe the history of Columbus has been whitewashed, and his true legacy is colonization and oppression.

But to some Italian-Americans, the statue represents their community's contribution to Bridgeport and their own experience with discrimination.

The Parks Department will debate the statue's future Wednesday.