In an interview on Chicago’s Morning Answer, Italian-American community leader Ron Onesti joined hosts Amy Jacobson and Jim Iuorio to reflect on the five-year anniversary of the removal of two Christopher Columbus statues in Chicago and to share plans for a new museum honoring Italian-American immigration.
The statues, one in Grant Park and another in Arrigo Park in Little Italy, were taken down in 2020 during a wave of nationwide protests, some of which turned violent. Onesti recalled the chaos that surrounded the statue in Grant Park, where organized protest groups clashed with police, resulting in injuries and widespread damage. He criticized the city’s decision to remove the statues in response to the unrest, describing it as a capitulation to outside agitators rather than a considered civic response.
Onesti, who serves as president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans and directs several cultural organizations including the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, emphasized that the statues hold cultural and historical meaning far beyond the figure of Columbus himself. He explained that the original designation of Columbus Day in 1892 was a conciliatory gesture to the Italian-American community after the 1891 lynching of 11 Sicilian immigrants in New Orleans—the largest mass lynching in U.S. history. The holiday, and the statues erected to commemorate it, became symbols of acceptance and belonging for generations of Italian immigrants and their descendants.
While acknowledging that Christopher Columbus is a complex historical figure, Onesti argued that the statues are not about the man himself, but rather about honoring the contributions of Italian-Americans to the city and the country. He criticized what he described as misinformation campaigns rooted in fringe academic narratives and said the movement to cancel Columbus was more about political posturing than historical truth.
As part of a legal settlement with the City of Chicago, Onesti announced that the statue from Arrigo Park will be installed inside a new Italian-American museum currently under construction on Harlem Avenue, which he hopes to open by Columbus Day in October. The museum, named the Chicago Museum of Italian Immigration, will showcase the immigrant experience, cultural traditions, and civic contributions of Italian-Americans throughout the city’s history.
Onesti said the museum will fill a major cultural void in Chicago, where Italian-American history has not been formally preserved in a dedicated space. He stressed that while the city retains ownership of the statue, the community’s ability to display it in the museum represents a meaningful victory.
During the conversation, the hosts and Onesti also touched on broader topics such as ethnic identity, cancel culture, and the treatment of historical figures. Onesti shared a surprising moment from the city’s handling of the statue controversy, recalling a profane and inflammatory comment reportedly made by then-Mayor Lori Lightfoot during a call with city attorneys. While the remark has not been independently verified, Onesti said it reflected a dismissive attitude toward Italian-American concerns.
Looking forward, Onesti hopes the museum will serve as a place of education, reflection, and pride for the Italian-American community and the city as a whole. He also extended an invitation to all Chicagoans to visit the new space once it opens, regardless of their heritage.
In the meantime, the debate over public monuments and cultural recognition continues, but Onesti remains focused on preserving the stories and symbols that have long defined his community’s place in Chicago.