Two St. John Fisher College students have been charged with criminal mischief after trying to steal a statue of Frederick Douglass early Sunday morning.
The college says both the young men who pulled down and carried off the statue of Douglass in Rochester have been suspended.
The students were caught carrying the statue down the street by Rochester Police after breaking it off its base on Tracey Street near Alexander Street. They arrested 20-year-old John Boedicker of Endicott and 21-year-old Charles Milks of Kenmore.
The statue was one of 13 installed around the city to honor the abolitionist who lived for years in Rochester and published his “North Star” newspaper here.
The organizers of the movement plan to have artist Olivia Kim restore the statue. They also have one more replica in storage although it’s intended for another location. Douglass Bicentennial head Christine Christopher said in a statement:
“The easy response, the human response is anger. But I encourage this community to rise above the anger and disappointment, and turn this into a teachable moment — as Douglass would have wanted us to do. The statue at the corner of Alexander and Tracy Streets will be replaced, as quickly as it can possibly be done. We will not give in to hatred.”