A controversial statue in Canton was removed Monday night.
Crews removed the statue of Capt. John O'Donnell, who, in 1786, founded Canton as a plantation where he owned slaves. Hundreds of people signed a petition to take down the statue and sent letters to City Hall.
Mayor Brandon Scott released a statement calling this a historical moment, saying: "Tonight, the hostile vestige to the notorious enslaver Captain John O'Donnell no longer stands in Canton Square. This is a historical moment, however, countless publicly named monuments, statues, streets and schools across Baltimore remain that must be reassessed. I am committed to dismantling structural oppression in Baltimore by working with the city administrator to commission a team to establish procedures for reviewing the impact of these cruel monuments while continuing to promote equitable policies to right yesterday’s wrongs. Thanks to the Canton Anti-Racism Alliance for their persistence on this effort and continuous work on building an inclusive Baltimore."