Supporters of the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle want the piece to stay put.
Dozens of people, including city council members, held a rally at City Hall, saying they oppose any potential plans to remove the monument.
This as dozens of structures come under fire amid a renewed debate over symbols of hate across the country.
Violence erupted at protests over the removal of a confederate statue in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this month.
"Columbus has very deep roots to many people in the city, and it’s one of those statues simply should not be in consideration for removal," said Staten Island Councilman Joseph Borelli.
"This was something that was a gift to the city, something that has been vetted," said Pastor Michel Faulkner with New Horizon Church. "Just five years ago, the city paid for a renovation of the statue.
Simply removing the statue, and the flags and the symbols of racism, does not necessarily remove all the hurt, all the pain and all the damage that has been done these many years."
Earlier this week, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito called Columbus a symbol of oppression.
City Hall says there are no plans to remove the piece, but that the statue will likely be considered by the committee that’s looking into creating guidelines for the removal or addition of structures.