CHICAGO (WLS) — The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans responding today to the recommendation to permanently remove the Christopher Columbus statues from Chicago.

RELATED: https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-christopher-columbus-statue-mayor-lori-lightfoot-monuments-grant-park/12142855/

“We are calling out, once again, for the mayor to meet with us to discuss the safe return of the statues,” said Ron Onesti, president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. “We expect her to honor her words and stick to her position regarding not erasing history.”

The statues were removed in July 2020, following protests grew out of the national outcry and protests over the murder of George Floyd and fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor.

The Grant Park statue was the focus of a protest that turned into a violent clash between Chicago police and protesters after protesters tried to tear it down.

WATCH: Crews remove Christopher Columbus statue in Grant Park

The Monument Commission’s report said “the image of Columbus has become a bitter reminder of centuries of exploitation, conquest and genocide.” The Committee also recommended permanently removing or altering 41 Chicago monuments.

Those recommendations now go to the mayor who can implement or ignore them.

Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

You May Also Like

Barefoot Investor sounds alarm against home loan change that will make it even harder to buy a house

By MAX ALDRED FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 22:43 EDT, 5 April…

‘Love the idea of him being with someone with a degenerating brain. Hilarious’: What Earl Spencer’s bitter wife allegedly wrote about his new love in poisonous diary

By MARK HOOKHAM Published: 18:30 EDT, 5 April 2025 | Updated: 20:29…

Global car giant stops shipments to the US over Trump tariffs

The maker of Jaguar and Land Rover cars is pausing shipments to…

Florida House Committee Approves Sales Tax Cut to 5.25% But Eliminates Tax ‘Holidays’

House Ways & Means Chairman Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, is helping lead efforts…