Chicago’s Columbus Statues Could All Be Coming Back


A legal agreement uncovered by the Freedom of Information Act proves Chicago officials lacked the authority to remove the city's Columbus statues.

Last year, as racial equality protests reached a boiling point, the city of Chicago removed three statues of Christopher Columbus — one in Grant Park, one in Arrigo Park in Little Italy and one at 93rd Street and Exchange Avenue in South Chicago.

Attempts to tear down the Columbus statue in Grant Park last summer ended with violent clashes between protesters and police. Mayor Lori Lightfoot decided to, in her words, “temporarily” remove the statue, along with the other two Columbus monuments, CBS Chicago reports.

The Chicago Monuments Project advisory panel convened for the first time in March to decide whether or not the statues should go back up.

However, it appears the decision is not up to the panel.

A turning point  

Attorneys representing the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) have discovered an original agreement through the Freedom of Information Act that states:

“The Park District will, in perpetuity, obtain the written approval of the JCCIA before making any substantial change to Columbus Plaza or the Columbus statue.” 

The Grant Park Columbus statue was removed by the city in the middle of the night last July, which we now know it had no legal authority to do.

Ron Onesti, President of the JCCIA, has written to the city requesting the Grant Park statue be immediately returned to its original location in the plaza.

Should the city refuse to comply, the JCCIA is prepared to file suit to enforce the provisions of the original agreement.

When all is said and done, it appears that the three Columbus statues in Chicago could all be returned to their original locations in the near-term. 

We’ll keep you posted on any developments.

 

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