Governor Cuomo is defending Christopher Columbus and their shared Italian heritage — as others call for Columbus' iconic statue to removed.

The Governor is acknowledging so called "bad acts" committed by Columbus against indigenous populations, but says the 15th century explorer is a symbol of something more positive.

"The Columbus Day parade is really not about Columbus, it's about the Italian-Americans," Cuomo said. "The statue is really not about Columbus, it's about the Italian-American heritage, and I think that deserves to be celebrated. Again, I'm a little biased, for obvious reasons, but I believe the Italian-American heritage should be celebrated."

The Governor made his comments during yesterday's West Indian Day Parade; an event he says is a celebration of diversity in New York. Critics say Columbus represents genocide, which should not be celebrated.

A statue of the Italian explorer was recently vandalized in Queens.