Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Hastings’ insurance reform legislation passes Senate in Springfield Business
  • Michael Frerichs Illinois Treasurer
    Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown Economy
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations Civil Rights
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad News
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families Business
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat Democrat
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens Government
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured Fire
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday Features
  • two-story apartment building on the 15200 block of El Camino Terrace in Orland Park
    Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries Fire
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown Baby Boomers
  • Illinios Industrial Energy Consumers, information ad
    Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Business
  • State Senator Mike Porfirio secured over $20 million to support infrastructure improvements and construction in the 11th Senate District.
    Senator Porfirio applauds more than $20 million in infrastructure repairs coming to the 11th District News
  • Dad and daughter reunited Lebving Law firm photo
    Little Girl Recovered and Reunited with Dad After Long Separation Dads' Rights
  • 11-03-25 OFPD Coffee living alone
    Orland Fire hosts meeting on helping Seniors who live alone Nov. 5 Baby Boomers
Christopher Columbus statue Chicago Grant Park. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Chicago’s Italian American Community responds to Monuments Project

Posted on February 19, 2021February 19, 2021 By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Chicago’s Italian American Community responds to Monuments Project
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Chicago’s Italian American Community responds to Monuments Project

The City of Chicago, in a release distributed on February 17, 2021, launched the Chicago Monuments Project website at chicagomonuments.org kicking off the public engagement phase of the Chicago Monuments Project.

The new website identifies monumental sculptures, artworks, and commemorative plaques on the public way and in Chicago parks selected by the Chicago Monuments Project Advisory Committee for further review.

Out of a collection of over 500 monumental sculptures and commemorative plaques on the public way and in Chicago parks, 41 have been deemed “controversial”. Of those, three are statues of Christopher Columbus, one is the Italo Balbo monument in Grant Park.

The statues of Christopher Columbus represent generations of traditions celebrated by the Italian American community. In particular, the 129-year-old Columbus Statue, originally displayed at Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, that stood in Arrigo Park was financed, and fostered by Chicago’s Italian American community. Led by State Representative Victor Arrigo and the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans this statue was rededicated in Chicago’s Little Italy 55 years ago.

Christopher Columbus statue Chicago Grant Park. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
Christopher Columbus statue Chicago Grant Park. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

In the interest of public safety, all three Columbus statues were removed this past summer and placed into storage “temporarily”, according to Mayor Lightfoot. Now the fate of those monuments lies in the hands of this thirty-member commission.

“The history and traditions represented by these monuments are sacred to us Italian Americans. It is more than Columbus the man, his accomplishments or his intentions,” said JCCIA President Ron Onesti. “I was married on Columbus Day. The Columbus Day Parade began its day each year with a wreath-laying ceremony at the feet of the Columbus Statue honoring Italian American War veterans. Joe DiMaggio even visited the statue!” Onesti said.

The monument honoring the transatlantic flight of Italo Balbo in 1933 to Chicago is of great concern to the Italian American community. It was a gift from Italy to Chicago and features a 2000-year-old column from ancient Rome.

“This is a time when the Italian American community of Chicago truly needs to come together, stand up, and be heard,” said Onesti. He is asking all supporters to respond to the City of Chicago Monuments Project at www.chicagomonuments.org, click on the “Share Your Thoughts” button, then scroll down to the “Public Feedback” section.

“The Columbus and Balbo statues are public expressions of our Italian immigrant heritage, culture, and pride. This is something very important to our community, and we just want the same respect any other ethnic group would be afforded,” Onesti said.

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Hastings’ insurance reform legislation passes Senate in Springfield - October 31, 2025
  • Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown - October 30, 2025
  • Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations - October 30, 2025
NPV: 66
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Chicago, Cook County, News, Politics, Racism, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:anti-Italian racism, bigotry, Chicago, Columbus statues, crime, destruction of statues, Italian Americans, Monuments Project, Racism, vandalism

Post navigation

Previous Post: Mike Madigan does get to select his successor
Next Post: Chicago Wolves win with strong lead over Iowa Wild

Related Posts

  • Jeffery M. Leving fights for your rights
    Leving reminisces about one of his most emotional parental successes Jeffery Leving
  • OFPD Board President Christopher Evoy. Photo courtesy of the OFPD
    Orland Fire District board members denounces Illinois Safe-T Act as “threat to First Responders” Chicago
  • Dads' Rights Attorney Jeffery M. Leving. Specializing in Fathers' Rights, Family Law, Child custody, divorce proceedings
    Leving Legal and law enforcement recover little girl for Dad Chicago
  • Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez 25th Ward on Measlss spread in Chicago March 7, 2024
    Statement from the 25th Ward Office on New Measles cases at New Arrivals Shelter in Pilsen Chicago
  • Heron Egret at Candlewick Lake in Illinois, near the Wisconsin Border south of Janesville in
    State cautions residents about Blue-Green Algae threat in lakes Environment
  • Nazareth standout to Rutgers News

More Related Articles

RTA Pace Bus No 2682 Photo courtesy Wikipedia RTA Chairman Kirk Dillard to Receive North American APTA Award News
Chicago Wolves face-off with Toronto Marlies Nov. 13, 2021 Chicago Wolves outshot but lose to the Toronto Marlies  Chicago
Wolves lose Game 3 of Playoffs but still lead 2 to 1 News
Cook County Clerk Yarbrough seeks to recruit veterans as election judges Chicago
Seniors enjoy Halloween entertainment hosted by Orland Township and Supervisor Paul O'Grady. A Spooktacular Celebration for Orland Township Seniors Baby Boomers
Lethal injection room, San Quentin Prison. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia CBS’ Gayle King should be fired and vicious murderers should be put to death Blogger

Comments (2) on “Chicago’s Italian American Community responds to Monuments Project”

  1. Pingback: The Driver's Side" – News From The Motorist's Perspective | theexpiredmeter.com
  2. Brad says:
    February 20, 2021 at 10:28 pm

    We’re in bizarro world now. When people target Lincoln and Sheridan, who were instrumental in freeing slaves, it’s beyond ridiculous. Were they perfect? Of course not. But neither was MLK – he was an adulterer. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone…

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch
    October 17, 2025
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Illinois State Senator Michael Hastings. Photo courtesy of the Illinois State Senate
    Hastings’ insurance reform legislation passes Senate in Springfield
    October 31, 2025
  • Michael Frerichs Illinois Treasurer
    Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown
    October 30, 2025
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations
    October 30, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad
    October 30, 2025
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families
    October 29, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme