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In reply to the discussion: Biden Says We Should 'Protect' Columbus, Washington and Jefferson Statues [View all]ucrdem
(15,512 posts)but the Spaniards who followed to set up encomiendas. Las Casas was originally one of these, but after several conversion experiences became a cleric who spoke against the encomienda system. But this was long after Columbus had left the new world (1504) and the old (he died in 1506). Las Casas became a priest in Rome in 1507.
Anyway I think Biden is expressing the completely reasonable position that decisions about public monuments should be made in public and carried out in a responsible way. Pulling down statues of European explorers not directly responsible for slavery seems misguided at best and potentially dangerous.
Incidentally Las Casas early on recommended using African workers in place of indigenous populations as he felt they were physically better able to withstand the rigors demanded of them.