https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1274816919250636801
So it happened. Here's my take on it after reading the article in its full capacity.
This decision was made between the AMNH and the remaining Roosevelt family, The article also mentions how many a historical monument was being vandalized. The way I see it, they did not want to risk this piece being vandalized and the possibility of criminals vandalizing and looting the greater AMNH. It was already covered in red paint once and the last thing the museum wants is for people to tear it down and risk damaging museum grounds. It's like they said in the article, the problem is not the man himself, rather the statue as it depicts pretty clear racial hierarchy in a way that the 2 aforementioned parties feel does not showcase/honor the man's legacy.
The way I see it, the AMNH and Roosevelt's descendants feel that the current statue does not represent the president's legacy to the museum and to America in a positive light. Besides, if you're worried about them erasing his name, that ain't gonna happen ever. The man's name is practically a part of the museum itself. Hell, he's gonna get another hall named after him after the statue is removed.
As for my thoughts on the statue itself, I do think it depicts racial hierarchy and I'd call for its removal merely on the grounds that I don't want any possible vandalism. The AMNH is a treasure of treasures and the last thing I need is some commie LARPer trying to paly shotput with Molotov cocktails.
The good news is that in the Twitter replies, a good amount of people are on the side of our former president, even those who identify themselves as liberals. Obviously, you're got a few clowns who compared his statue to those of literal Nazis but screw them. They're already too far gone up their own narratives to be redeemed. All I care about are the people who realize that, despite the statue itself being problematic in nature, the man it's depicting was one of the greatest who bore the title of president.