The authorities of Chicago in the state of Illinois ordered the removal of two monuments to Christopher Columbus, the Associated Press reported.

The mayor's office said they would remove them before "consultations with stakeholders."

In a statement issued after the statues were taken down, the mayor’s office said they were being “temporarily removed ... until further notice.” It said the removals were “in response to demonstrations that became unsafe for both protesters and police, as well as efforts by individuals to independently pull the Grant Park statue down in an extremely dangerous manner.”

“This step is about an effort to protect public safety and to preserve a safe space for an inclusive and democratic public dialogue about our city’s symbols,” the mayor’s office said, which said the statues were removed following “consultation with various stakeholders.”