Chicago Park District announces deal over Columbus statues lawsuit
The city will loan the small Columbus statue removed from Arrigo Park in July 2020 to the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, which is developing a museum honoring Italian immigrants in the city's Little Italy neighborhood, according to a Park District news release.
The larger Columbus statue that previously stood in Grant Park won't return to its former spot either. The Park District is instead removing the statue's base, 'restoring public access to this section of Grant Park, and facilitating a process to determine which new public art will call this corner of Grant Park home.'
'The Chicago Park District is committed to diversifying our statuary to ensure we are honoring Chicago's rich history and diversity,' Parks CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa said in a release. 'To that end, we look forward to convening the process to determine which Italian American will be honored at Arrigo Park, and which artworks will replace the Grant Park plinth.'
Ron Onesti, president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, told the Tribune he had to speak with his attorneys before commenting Thursday afternoon.
The Park District and the city's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events will 'lead a community engagement process' to pick another Italian honoree. After the Columbus pedestal is taken down, the Park District 'will announce plans for a process to redesign the plaza as a gathering space that will accommodate temporary artworks.'
The statues were taken down amid bloody confrontations between police and protesters in 2020, and remained in storage while former Mayor Lori Lightfoot awaited a task force recommendation about what to do about those statues and others that were targeted by activists for honoring white supremacy or disrespecting Indigenous peoples. That report finally landed in 2022.
The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans sued shortly after their removal, claiming the Park District broke a 1973 deal to display the statue in Arrigo Park. Lightfoot also removed a lesser-known statue in the South Chicago neighborhood.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
44 minutes ago
- USA Today
Zelenskyy changed his attire and other key moments from White House meeting with Trump
European leaders flocked to Washington, DC, for a critical talk with President Donald Trump on bringing an end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned to the White House on Aug. 18, this time flanked by European leaders, for a critical discussion with President Donald Trump on his besieged country's war with Russia. The meeting came days after Trump failed to cut a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to pause hostilities at an Alaska summit and six months after the Ukrainian leader was dressed down by administration officials in a hostile Oval Office clash in February. But this round was different in tone with Trump pledging "a lot of help" for Ukraine and the Europeans thanking the president for stepping up to create space for peace talks. More: Will Zelenskyy give up land to Putin? Live from the White House showdown The U.S. will be 'involved' in protecting Ukraine after a peace agreement with Russia, Trump said, but he passed on providing details and echoed Putin in saying a ceasefire isn't needed before a deal can be achieved. Here's a look at key moments from the Trump-Zelenskyy White House meeting. 'No easy solutions': Europe arrives at the White House One by one, European leaders filed into the White House where soldiers, sailors and airmen holding U.S. state flags lined the driveway. They were greeted by Monica Crowley, chief of protocol for the State Department. Besides Zelenskyy, the administration is hosted NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. More: Oval Office meeting again puts rocky, tense Trump-Zelenskyy relationship to the test But the group wasn't part of the Ukrainian president's initial sit-down with Trump. Instead, each had lunch in the State Dining Room while Trump and Zelenskyy met in the Oval Office. With so many dignitaries visiting, the White House is having to make use of sitting parlors that are not typically used as offices such as the Red Room and Blue Room. "There are no easy solutions," to Russia's war in Ukraine, said Meloni, the Italian prime minister. "I believe we must explore all possible solutions to ensure peace and security for our nations." Zelenskyy arrives with new hopes, new look A black-clad Zelenskyy pulled up to the White House and was greeted by Trump as the two shook hands and posed for the cameras. The Ukranian president was mocked by Trump and others before being booted from the place after sporting the military-style attire in the Oval Office that he has regularly worn since Russia first invaded in 2022. It is an army-toned style of sweatshirts and polis that Zelenskyy has kept in most appearances whether when meeting with world leaders, injured civilians or armed troops. More: Zelenskyy delivers letter from his wife to first lady Melania Trump: 'Many thanks' This time around, however, the 47-year-old Zelenskyy dressed up a bit, wearing a black jacket and a black collared shirt which his designer said maintains the same "military key" and symbolism. Admiral James Stavridis, a former NATO supreme allied commander, had suggested the European leaders show up to the White House wearing olive fatigues in a show of solidarity. At one point Zelenskyy was asked a question by Brian Glenn, of Real America's Voice, the same reporter who earlier this year slammed his attire. He apologized to Zelenskyy for his previous comment during the exchange and said he looked fabulous − to which Trump agreed. "You're in the same suit," Zelenskyy told Glenn, as Trump and others laughed. "You see, I changed, you are not." Oval Office do-over − without JD Vance's heckling Eventually the two made their way inside, where Trump called it an "honor" to have Zelenskyy visit again. There was no red carpet, as some political observers noted, but both men looked to reset the relationship in front of the world, and inside the Oval Office they were joined by many of the same administration officials as in February. Zelenskyy provided the president with a letter from his wife, Olena Zelenska, that was written to first lady Melania Trump thanking her for penning a message to Putin that raised the plight of children in the region. More: What's latest in Russian-Ukraine war? A closer look at maps during Trump-Zelenskyy meet The first lady's letter never mentioned Ukraine specifically, but it did convey the need for a "dignity-filled world for all" and called upon Putin to "serve humanity."Things were mostly diplomatic this time around with no heckling from Trump's subordinates, such as Vice President JD Vance, who called Zelenskyy "disrespectful" during the verbal brawl in February. No such interruptions from the VP this time, however. Unlike with Putin, tough questions for Ukraine's leader One notable difference compared with the Putin summit in Alaska − besides the red carpet treatment − is that Zelenskyy fielded tough questions from the press about his actions that echoed criticism by right-leaning U.S. officials, including over the question of when Ukraine will hold new elections. Zelenskyy, whose term ended in May 2024, has paused holding elections amid the war due to Ukrainian law, but he indicated on Aug. 18 that he'd be open to holding them under a peace deal. "Of course, yes," the Ukrainian leader said in response to a question from a reporter. Trump chimed in with a smirk, suggesting that in three and a half years, if the United States happens to be at war "with somebody," there wouldn't be an election in 2028. "You like this idea," Zelenskyy said with laughter. Zelenskyy reiterated that his country needs U.S. assistance with weapons and intelligence. More: Trump and Zelenskyy meet again, but Putin has faced Trump, other presidents many times Trump backed off his quest for a cease-fire after meeting with Putin, and repeated that a larger peace deal can be achieved while the fighting continues. The president has hinted that the United States might provide security guarantees but rebuffed welcoming Ukraine into NATO, something Putin vehemently opposes. Once the meetings with Zelenskyy and European leaders conclude, Trump said he plans to give Putin a call. 'Family photo' with allies, and Democratic attacks Standing between Zelenskyy and Macron, the French president, Trump posed for a photo with the European leaders in Cross Hall. More: European leaders to join Zelenskyy in Washington after Trump embraces Putin stance on war At one point, Trump pointed to a portrait depicting his assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, during the 2024 presidential campaign. "That was not a good day," he said. "That was not a great day. See the picture." Things then moved to the East Room, where Trump held court with the entire group and outlined the need for an agreement to end the war. He said there is a possibility of a trilateral summit with Putin and Zelenskyy where territorial disputes could be resolved. "It's going to be when we do, not if," Trump said. Rutte, the NATO leader, credited Trump for breaking the deadlock with Putin by bringing the Russian leader to the negotiation table. "I think if we play this well, we could end this," Rutte said. "We have to end this. We have to stop the killing, we have to stop the destruction of Ukraine's infrastructure. It is a terrible war." Putin is facing war crimes charges from the International Criminal Court after starting a war that has resulted in more than 1.4 million casualties, according to the Center for Strategic & International Studies, a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research group. Many of the European leaders noted this was the most progress they had seen in ending the war since it started in 2022, but Democrats didn't give Trump the same praise that foreign dignitaries showered him with on Aug. 18. Instead they used an AI-generated image on its party's official page on X portraying Trump being walked on a dog leash by Putin, after the president said the Russian strongman agreed with his desire to end mail-in ballots and electronic voting machines in America. Contributing: Sarah Wire, Francesca Chambers and Joey Garrison
USA Today
44 minutes ago
- USA Today
Who are the European leaders meeting with Trump and Zelenskyy?
President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and top European leaders at the White House on Monday, Aug. 18 following his one-day Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The coalition of European leaders, all longtime supporters of Ukraine amid its war with Russia, traveled to Washington, DC, as a group to shore up Zelenskyy's position, as Trump continues to push for a peace deal to end the more than three-year-long war. Here is what to know about the group of foreign leaders that accompanied Zelenskyy on his trip to the White House on Aug. 18. Zelenskyy in DC: Updates on White House showdown Who were the leaders joining Zelenskyy at the White House? The European leaders joining the meeting were United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, President of the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Who is British Prime Minister Keir Starmer? British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the country's fourth prime minister in less than two years, stepped into office July 2024. His election was a landslide for the Labour Party, ejecting the Conservatives from power after five consecutive Conservative prime ministers held Downing Street. The UK has been a leading supporter of Ukraine since Russia's February 2022 invasion, and it is one of the leading donors of military assistance to Ukraine, alongside the U.S. and Germany, according to a recent briefing from the House of Commons Library. The UK has pledged more than $16 billion in aid since the war began, as of the June 2025 report, of which $10 billion is for military aid. In a statement released ahead of the Aug. 18 summit, Starmer reaffirmed the UK's support of Ukraine, threatening increased sanctions on Russia in response to the ongoing war. "Our unwavering support for Ukraine will continue as long as it takes," he said. Who is Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni? Giorgia Meloni has been Italy's prime minister since October 2022. She is Italy's first female prime minister and the country's first far-right leader since World War II. Italy is one of six founding members of the EU and it's the bloc's third-largest economy. In the past, Italy has played a valuable role as a bridge between Europe and antagonistic governments in Russia and China, and in some Middle Eastern nations. As with most of EU member states, and similiar to the five other leaders joining her in Washington, DC, Aug. 18, Italy has been a steadfast ally of Ukraine throughout the war. More: See European leaders arrive in DC for Trump-Zelenskyy meeting In a joint statement following Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday, Aug. 15, Meloni joined several other EU leaders in a pledge to support Ukraine, saying the nation must have "ironclad" security guarantees to defend its territorial integrity in any peace negotiations. "Our support to Ukraine will continue. We are determined to do more to keep Ukraine strong in order to achieve an end to the fighting and a just and lasting peace," the Aug.. 16 statement said. Who is French President Emmanuel Macron? France's president Emmanuel Macron has led the country since May 2017, and cruised into a second term in 2022 against Marine Le Pen, a far-right populist who attacked the European Union and NATO, and expressed support for Russia. In the early days of the war, Macron fashioned himself as one of Europe's key mediators in the burgeoning conflict, and attempted to establish dialogues with Putin to end the war, though they proved unsuccessful. As of late, Macron has taken a leading role in Europe's push to keep Trump from legitimizing Putin and rewarding the Russian invasion with a hurried deal to end the Ukraine war. Macron was the first European leader to visit the White House since Trump's return to office earlier this year. Who is German Chancellor Friedrich Merz? Among the four European heads of state who have descended on the White House for the talks, Friedrich Merz is the newest to office, after winning election in May 2025. He is the leader of the center-right Christian Democratic Union party, and heads Europe's largest state economy. Germany's decision to send military aid to Ukraine in 2022 marked a significant reversal in the country's long-standing position of never sending offensive weapons to conflict zones. Among European nations, it is among the top providers of aid to Ukraine. According to a May 2025 report from the German government, this aid includes equipment and weapons such as air defense systems, combat vehicles, artillery systems, armored transport vehicles, small arms, and ammunition, as well as other types of support, including medical supplies and clothing. Between the start of the year and May 2025, the report says total German aid to Ukraine exceeds $50 billion. Who is Finnish President Alexander Stubb? Alexander Stubb is the president of Finland, making him the only leader at the White House meeting representing a nation that borders Russia. He was elected in February 2024, roughly a year after the country joined NATO. A member of the conservative National Coalition Party party, he previously served as the prime minister, finance minister, foreign minister, trade, and Europe minister of Finland. Finland has committed more than $4 billion in aid to Ukraine since the war began, according to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Who is European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen? Ursula von der Leyen has been president of the European Commission since 2019, and is the first woman to hold the post. She was a lawmaker in Germany prior to taking the position, serving in Germany's legislature and as Federal Minister of Defence, among other roles. In her capacity as president, she manages the organization of the European Commission, including on matters of policy, and often represents the body in international meetings and summits. It's the second meeting von der Leyen has had with the U.S. president in as many months, following a July 27 meeting at one of Trump's luxury golf courses in Scotland, where they reached a U.S.-EU trade deal. "Since the beginning of Russia's brutal invasion, Europe has been at Ukraine's side, united, and we will support you for as long as it takes for a just and lasting peace," she said in an Aug. 16 statement following a meeting with Ukraine's president. "And this peace must be achieved through strength." Who is NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte? Mark Rutte is NATO's secretary-general. He took office in October 2024 and was formerly Prime Minister of the Netherlands from October 2010 to July 2024. NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance with two North American countries – the U.S. and Canada – and 28 European countries. Founded in 1949 after the end of World War II, NATO is the 'largest peacetime military alliance in the world,' according to the U.S. Department of State. Ukraine is not a NATO member, but a NATO partner country, which means that it cooperates closely with NATO but it is not covered by the security guarantee in the Alliance's founding treaty. The prospect of joining NATO is a major sticking point in potential peace talks, with Ukraine wanting the security alliance and Russia strongly opposing it, with Putin long considering NATO's existence and its continued growth as a threat. Contributing: Kim Hjelmgaard, Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY; Reuters. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
European leaders' hot mic moment with Trump: ‘I never want to speak with my press!'
The cameras kept rolling for a few moments after the White House meeting with President Trump, Zelensky and European leaders officially ended, in which they were caught on a hot mic moment in a candid exchange about the press. The European leaders, including Iceland President Alexander Stubb and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, expressed gratefulness and admiration for the way Trump handled the reporters. "Thank you for being so fair," Meloni could be heard saying, while making a face in seeming reference to the reporters. "You go through this every day?" Stubb asked, to which Trump nodded and said "All the time." "But he loves it," Meloni said, before adding "I never want to speak with my press!" Trump then turned the subject away from himself telling Meloni "He's a great golfer, you know," in reference to Stubb, who has played with the American president in the past.
