It would be hard to use rope in this particular situation, as it has a wide base and looks really heavy.
A little C-4 and some det cord would make that into gravel.
OTOH, a dozen troops in period uniform, -- with fixed bayonets on their muskets -- should suffice to discourage/deter/prevent even a determined punk from affixing a rope to a statue. Especially if they are backed up by a hundred modern-armed sharpshooters...
If, that is, the NOPD doesn't do their job...