The statue of the 'Fearless Girl' will stare down the Wall Street bull for another year

Rachael Levy

The statue of the "Fearless Girl" in the heart of New York's financial district will continue to inspire people for at least another year.

"Fearless Girl" was placed in front of the famous statue of the Wall Street bull by State Street Global Advisors, a Boston-based financial services firm, on March 8, International Women's Day, to advocate gender diversity on corporate boards.

The statue had been due to stay through April 2. But according to an email from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's office, the Department of Transportation extended the statue's permit to February 2018.

De Blasio said "Fearless Girl" had fueled many beneficial conversations about women.

"Now, she'll be asserting herself and affirming her strength even after her temporary permit expires — a fitting path for a girl who refuses to quit," de Blasio said.

Ron O'Hanley, the president and CEO of State Street Global Advisors, said in a statement:

"We would like to thank Mayor de Blasio and the people around the world who have responded so enthusiastically to what the Fearless Girl represents — the power and potential of having more women in leadership. We are thrilled that she can continue to share her positive message and inspire the next generation of women leaders."

A petition on Change.org calling on the city to make the statue a permanent fixture has garnered support from over 25,000 people, including New York State Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou, who wrote a letter to de Blasio asking for the statute to stay.

"Fearless Girl shows us that the might of a charging bull, and that which it symbolizes, can be easily matched with the determination and defiance of young women," Niou wrote.

The statue was created by the artist Kristen Visbal. Visbal will join city officials on Monday to discuss the statue's extension.

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