2020.07.24 Christopher Columbus Statue, Grant Park, Illinois USA

At 1:00am on July 24, 2020, following months of protests and police violence, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered the statue be removed by contracted workers and stored at an undisclosed location.

The Christopher Columbus Monument in Grant Park designed by Carlo Brioschi was dedicated August 3, 1933 during a citywide celebration of Italian Day. The memorial was funded by local donations from the Italian community. From its christening, it has faced continual backlash from the public. The memorial’s design was nearly rejected by the Illinois State Board of Art in 1932, for the pedestal’s Beaux-arts design which displeased them greatly.