Sequoiah Burrello and her brother Ridge, of the Narragansett Indian Tribal Nation, participate in a traditional dance during a rally to recognize the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue at Columbus Square in New London on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. During the event members of local indigenous tribes performed traditional dances and held a drum circle before speakers and a moment of silence for George Floyd. “We’re standing on beautiful soil and beautiful land,” said organizer and City Councilor Curtis Goodwin. “And this, today, is called history.” The City Council voted late Tuesday to remove the statue from display in any public property in the city and the New London Police Department announced it would not be pursuing charges in the "incidents of criminal mischief" during demonstrations on June 6, when the statue, a police substation and a cruiser were spray-painted. (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

Workers with DC Construction Barry Huntoon, left, and Vince Haggett, center, work on a window frame of the Metropolitan Hotel building as Ben Ceccarelli, 12 years old, looks out a window at Bank Street on Tuesday, August 15, 2017, in New London. The building was recently purchased by Brandt Gentry in September of 2016 and renovation plans have not been made known. (The Day)

Taylor Wininger-Sieve, of Waterford, screams “I can’t breath” during a Walk for Justice in Waterford on Sunday, June 14, 2020. Several hundred participated in the march and rally that went from Clark Lane Middle School to the Town Hall and Police Station before returning. (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas (25) puts up a basket against Chicago Sky’s Robyn Parks (21) during a WNBA basketball game at Mohegan Sun Arena Sunday, June 25, 2023. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)

Juno, a Beluga whale, swims by as Meghan Smith, with Hot on Bank, leads a yoga class during a BeluYOGA event at the Mystic Aquarium on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. The class is a collaboration between the aquarium and the New London based yoga school which recently opened a second location at 11 Main St. in Old Mystic. Smith said the aquarium is starting a “Wellness Wednesday” program and when they reached out to her to teach the classes she was so grateful to be included. “These guys (the whales) are so famous,” she said laughing, “I’m so excited to teach them.” (Sarah Gordon/The Day)

Audrea Martinez, right, 9 of Richland, tries to break up a play toy fight between her brother Roman Canon, 5, and Richland Police Department Officer Eric Edwards Saturday December 12, 2015 during the Shop with a Cop event at the Richland Wal-Mart. Multiple local law enforcement agencies helped local kids holiday shop with $100 gift cards during the second of three local events. (Tri-City Herald)

Adam Aboudawd celebrates with his cousin Eyad Alawi, 2, as members of the Islamic Center of New London gather for a prayer to celebrate Eid al-Adha on Tuesday, August 21, 2018 at Washington Park in Groton. The holiday, also referred to as the Festival of Sacrifice, honors the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command. (The Day)

Residents, from left, Marge Roggero, Pat McFarlane, and Kathryn Bergeeron participate in a chair yoga class at Beechwood in New London on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. The nursing home has recently restarted indoor group activities in a small socially distanced setting. (Sarah Gordon/The Day)

Maureen Lawton, center, of Naragansett, holds up a Donald Trump doll as she cheers during the Trump Boat Floatilla along the Mystic River on Sunday, September 13, 2020. More than 800 boats flying pro-Trump flags and carrying groups of cheering supporters of the president paraded up the Mystic River on Sunday afternoon. (Sarah Gordon/ The Day)

(Ashland Times-Gazette)

Old Lyme's Rory Cavicke (9) kicks a ball past North Branford's Jason Stanford (17) during a boys soccer game on Thursday, September 12, 2019 at Colafati Field. (The Day)

Family members react as Martin, right and Angelene, center, Bates renew their vows Thursday during a ceremony at the Tri-Cities Chaplaincy's Hospice House in Kennewick. The Prosser couple, who met in Oregon when Martin was just 16, have been married for 46 years. Angelene, who has been battling ovarian cancer for three years, was admitted to hospice on Wednesday June 17 and nurses decided to organize the ceremony. "We always wanted to renew our vows," said Martin, "we just never had the money. Now I know that really all you need is love." Joining them are, from left, Chaplain Cheryl Kulas, nephew John Bales and children Martin Bales Jr., Jeremy Bales, Vonda Miller and Travis Bales. (Tri-City Herald)

Connecticut College sophomores Emily Ehler, right, and Emily Senatore, left, laugh as they paint classmate Caitlyn Teare, center, into the "One Place Many Cultures" mural on Friday, May 12, 2017, as part of their final for a color theory class "Decoding Color" in downtown New London. For their final project class members worked in teams to find an urban space and camouflage a classmate into the environment. (The Day)

Spectators watch as the Westerly Morris Men mark the sunrise of the first day of spring on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, on top of Lantern Hill in North Stonington. The a traditional English ritual dancing group was founded over 40 years ago and has been performing the rite of spring dances for over 30 years. (The Day)

Crew members with Anglin Aircraft Recovery Services look through the debris on Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at the scene where a plane crashed into a home on Monday evening at 243 Ring Drive in Groton. (Sarah Gordon / The Day)

Graduate Abby Bargnesi, left, talks to her sister Taylor through a window before Norwich Free Academy's Commencement Ceremony on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. (The Day)

Nate Summerfield enters the courtroom for his hearing at Medina County Common Pleas Court, Friday Aug. 17, 2012, in Medina, Ohio. Summerfield, who was arrested Wednesday morning in the slaying of his former girlfriend Lynn Jackenheimer, waived his right to extradition at the brief hearing. (Ashland Times-Gazette)

Tri City Americans' Ervan Sarthou (31) and Nolan Yaremko (22) block a goal attempt from Portland Winterhawks' Skyler McKenzie (43) October 24, 2015 during a game at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. (Tri-City Herald)