Because those are the controversial ones. Everyone more or less likes the statue of liberty. Its been around for a very long time and it’s downright cliche to talk about it. Nobody wants it removed.

Alternatively every few months the statue of Christopher Columbus in Columbus, Ohio outside the state legislature gets vandalized. A lot of people that live there resent that their home is named after a man who committed genocide.

In the south statues of confederates often serve as proxies for ideals. Their maintenance is a symbol of heritage and rebellion (and sometimes racial dominance) to their supporters and their removal is a symbol of progress, equality, and improvement to those who wish them removed. But the reality of these being people makes it messier. And yeah it’s controversial so its news.

Like, nobody is looking to tear down the space needle. It’s a symbol of space age progress and the city of Seattle. It’s not newsworthy, you won’t hear much about it, because it’s just there.